Compare towns
Hampton vs Rye vs Hooksett 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 the most renters (26.2% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Hooksett | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,611Lowest |
15,057 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Hooksett 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% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rye and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Rye and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Rye 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District | Hooksett 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.