Compare towns
Meredith vs Freeport vs Hampton vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
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 | Meredith | Freeport | Hampton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
8,802 |
16,426Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Lowest 25% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #4 of 133 in ME | #31 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 05 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Freeport High School | Winnacunnet High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.2Highest |
10.1Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.