Compare towns

Hampton vs Plainfield vs Wolfeboro vs Hampton Beach

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 highest household income ($95k).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

MeasureHamptonPlainfieldWolfeboroHampton Beach
People
Population
16,426Highest
1,314Lowest
6,571
2,605
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1
43% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Lowest
24% above U.S.
57±1.8
47% above U.S.
60.4±2.4Highest
55% above U.S.
Hampton Beach and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.6%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Wolfeboro 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%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.7%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Wolfeboro and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45%
U.S.: 35.7%
34%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,233±$9kHighest
18% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
$94,375±$22k
17% above U.S.
$82,557±$17k
about the U.S. average
Hampton and Wolfeboro 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.
$318,400±$34kLowest
4% below U.S.
$546,500±$60k
64% above U.S.
$508,900±$76k
53% 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.
$1,153±$103
18% below U.S.
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,375±$130
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$4,806
54% above U.S.
$4,531Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,115
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.7%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 min
9% below U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
25 min
4% below U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton Beach 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 — Governor Wentworth Regional School District —
High school in town Winnacunnet High School — Kingswood Regional High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
—
11.1Highest
—
On TownTapestry
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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.