Compare towns
Hampton vs Seabrook vs Exeter 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 expensive homes ($550k median).
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Wolfeboro has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | Seabrook | Exeter | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
8,427 |
16,151 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
54±1.9 25% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% 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% |
14.8%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Seabrook 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% |
31.5%±5 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Seabrook 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% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Exeter 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 37% above NH |
$443,500±$40kLowest 10% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% 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 |
$1,542±$174 3% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampton 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 |
$5,785 13% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | #114 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Seabrook School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.