Compare towns
Hampton vs Lyme vs Wolfeboro vs Hampstead
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 renters (26.2% rent).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Lyme | Wolfeboro | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
1,710Lowest |
6,571 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Lyme 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 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Lyme and Hampstead 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 |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
| Lyme and Hampton 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 |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Hampton and Lyme 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Lyme 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Lyme School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| 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 |
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.