Compare towns
Hampton vs Durham vs Meredith 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most kids (13.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Meredith | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
15,080 |
6,758 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above 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%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Durham and Hampton 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hampton and Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Oyster River High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
11.1 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.