Compare towns
Hampton vs Rye vs South Hampton 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 most renters (25.5% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Rye | South Hampton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
5,611 |
984Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Rye 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% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Rye 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 NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro 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 |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| South Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kLowest 35% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| South Hampton and Rye 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Rye School District | South Hampton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.