Compare towns
Meredith vs Hampton Beach vs Hampton 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%).
Hampton has the highest household income ($95k).
Wolfeboro has the most kids (13.7% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
2,605Lowest |
16,426Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% 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% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Highest 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+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Lowest 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% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 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 | $87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% 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 | $480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% 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 | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
$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% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton 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% |
5.6%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% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Winnacunnet High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.