Compare towns
Hampton vs Middlesex vs Ripton 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).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Middlesex | Ripton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
1,943 |
508Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% 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. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Ripton 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.