Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Plainfield vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the highest household income ($97k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Meredith | Plainfield | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
6,758 |
1,314Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampton and Meredith 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 20% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| 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 64% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.