Compare towns
Hampton vs Ayer vs Wolfeboro vs Hampton Beach
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 most expensive homes ($550k median).
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
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 | Ayer | Wolfeboro | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
8,645 |
6,571 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Kingswood Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
11.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.