Compare towns
Meredith vs Wolfeboro vs Hampton Beach
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).
Wolfeboro has the most kids (13.7% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
6,571 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% 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% |
13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Lowest 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% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 |
$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton Beach 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 |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,115Highest 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | 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 |
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.