Compare towns
Hampton vs Wolfeboro vs Walpole 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 highest household income ($95k).
Wolfeboro has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% 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.
| Measure | Hampton | Wolfeboro | Walpole | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
6,571 |
3,690Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%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 |
46.5±10.4Lowest 7% above NH |
55.5±3.7 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%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Walpole 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 |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 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 |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 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 |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest about the NH average |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,078 9% 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% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Walpole 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% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.