Compare towns
Hampton vs Reading vs Wolfeboro vs Hampstead
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).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Hampstead has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Reading | Wolfeboro | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
699Lowest |
6,571 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Hampton 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Hampton 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 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.