Compare towns
Hampton vs Dover vs Meredith vs Wolfeboro
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).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
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 | Dover | Meredith | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,930Lowest |
6,758 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% 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% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Dover and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
9.8Lowest |
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.