Compare towns
Meredith vs Wolfeboro vs Hampton vs Kingston
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Hampton has the youngest population (median age 51.2).
Kingston has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
6,571 |
10,101Highest |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
55.5±5.7 28% 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% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro 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% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Lowest 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% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Kingston 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 12% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
| Kingston 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 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% 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 |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School | — | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| 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.