Compare towns
Hampton vs Gardner 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 highest household income ($95k).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Gardner | Meredith | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
21,148Highest |
6,758 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% 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. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner and Hampton 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 18% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| 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 65% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| 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 15% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 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 |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Gardner | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Gardner High | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.1 |
11.1 |
| 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.