Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Saco 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 the most people working from home (23.7%).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Meredith | Saco | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101 |
6,758 |
20,819Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest 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. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% 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% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Saco 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% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Hampton 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±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above 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. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above 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. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,807 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% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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 10% 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% |
19%±3.6Lowest 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Saco Public Schools | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.