Compare towns
Hampton vs Thornton 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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Thornton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
2,799Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% 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% |
13.9%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Thornton 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 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton 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±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| 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 37% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below 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±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hampton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest about the NH average |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton 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 NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Thornton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | 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 |
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.