Compare towns
Hampton vs Rye vs Ellsworth 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
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Rye | Ellsworth | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,611Lowest |
8,657 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Rye 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Hampton 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #63 of 133 in ME | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District | Ellsworth Public Schools | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Ellsworth High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.