Compare towns
Hampton vs Laconia vs Meredith vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the highest household income ($97k).
Laconia has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most homeowners (78.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hampton | Laconia | Meredith | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101 |
17,085Highest |
6,758 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Laconia School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Laconia High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.