Compare towns
Hampton vs Dover vs Hampton Beach 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).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Wolfeboro has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
33,364Highest |
2,605Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
57±1.8 32% 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% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover 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 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Hampton and Dover 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 |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 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 |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hampton and Dover 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
62.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dover School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Dover Senior High School | — | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | 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.