Compare towns
Meredith vs Hampton Beach 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
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Hampton Beach | Hampstead | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
2,605Lowest |
9,102Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest 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+ | 45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Hampstead and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Hampstead School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.