Compare towns
Hampton vs Thornton vs Meredith 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 kids (14.6% under 18).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Thornton | Meredith | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
2,799Lowest |
6,758 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% 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%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton and Thornton 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest 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% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton 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 about the NH average |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| 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 35% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% 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±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hampton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton 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% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Thornton School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional 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.