Compare towns
Hampton vs Eliot vs Rye 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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Eliot | Rye | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
7,146 |
5,611Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Rye 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Rye 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. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Eliot 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 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 |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Rye School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town | 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 |
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.