Compare towns
Meredith vs Hooksett 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 people working from home (23.7%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Hampton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
15,057Highest |
10,101 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Hampton 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hooksett and Hampton 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hooksett 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.