Compare towns
Hampton vs Castleton vs Wolfeboro vs Meredith
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 renters (26.2% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Castleton | Wolfeboro | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
4,453Lowest |
6,571 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% 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. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #46 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.