Compare towns
Hampton vs Norwich vs Stratham 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Norwich | Stratham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
3,640Lowest |
7,754 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Stratham 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 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% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Stratham 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. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Norwich 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. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kLowest 64% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Hampton 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% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 70 in VT | #43 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.