Compare towns
Hampton vs Rye vs Wolfeboro vs Meredith
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 youngest population (median age 51.2).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
5,611Lowest |
6,571 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% 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% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| 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±$4k about the NH average |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Rye 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 |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Meredith 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Rye School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
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.