Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Ware | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
6,758 |
10,048 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% 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. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
24%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% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% 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. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,531 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% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 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 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above 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% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Ware | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
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.