Compare towns
Hampton vs Derry vs Bow 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 expensive homes ($550k median).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Derry | Bow | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
34,116Highest |
8,335 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Bow 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 4% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| 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 9% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hampton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Bow 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Bow School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Pinkerton Academy | Bow High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
12.8 |
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.