Compare towns
Lyme vs Hampstead 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
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Lyme | Hampstead | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
9,102Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Lyme and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Hampstead School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.