Compare towns

Hampton vs Wolfeboro vs Meredith

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).
Wolfeboro has the most kids (13.7% under 18).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

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.

MeasureHamptonWolfeboroMeredith
People
Population
16,426Highest
6,571Lowest
6,758
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
NH: +4.6%
+2.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
55.8±2.1
29% above NH
57±1.8Highest
32% above NH
55.5±3.7Lowest
28% 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%
13.7%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
12.6%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
34.6%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
34.2%±5
NH: 20.1%
Wolfeboro and Meredith 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%
45%
NH: 40.6%
45.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1Highest
NH: 6%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.2
NH: 6%
Hampton and Meredith 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
$94,375±$22k
5% below NH
$87,019±$19kLowest
12% 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
$546,500±$60k
36% above NH
$480,100±$48kLowest
19% 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
$1,103±$76Lowest
26% below NH
$1,149±$304
23% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813Highest
about the NH average
$4,531Lowest
32% below NH
$5,006
25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
12%±11.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.5%±9.2
NH: 48.2%
Hampton and Meredith 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%
8.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
7.7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
78.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
75.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
1 yr older than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below NH
24 minLowest
11% below NH
26 minHighest
about the NH average
Work from home
21.7%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
22.9%±6.6
NH: 16.8%
23.7%±4.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
Meredith 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 #46 of 120 in NH #62 of 120 in NH
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Governor Wentworth Regional School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town Winnacunnet High School Kingswood Regional High School Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
11.1Highest
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.