Compare towns
Hampton vs Hanover vs Dunbarton 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
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Dunbarton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
11,685 |
3,097Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48±3.7 11% 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%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hanover 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Hanover and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dunbarton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Hanover High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
10.7 |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.