Compare towns
Hampton vs Dorchester vs Wolfeboro vs Hampton Beach
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).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Wolfeboro has the most kids (13.7% under 18).
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 | Dorchester | Wolfeboro | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
410Lowest |
6,571 |
2,605 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
— | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Lowest 29% above NH |
56±10.5 29% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Wolfeboro 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% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
— | $94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% 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 | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% 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 |
— | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest about the NH average |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | — | Kingswood Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.