Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Wolfeboro vs Epping
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 most renters (25.5% rent).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
6,758 |
6,571Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Epping 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% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest 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% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Epping 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±$4k about the NH average |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$104,220±$7kHighest 5% above NH |
| Epping and Hampton 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 |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% 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±$93 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 3% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Meredith 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 | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.