Compare towns
Hampton vs Plainfield vs Canterbury 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
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Plainfield | Canterbury | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
2,522 |
2,353Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48.6±3.8 12% 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Canterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Canterbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| 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±$94 9% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | Shaker Regional 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 |
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.