Compare towns
Nelson vs Wolfeboro vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
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 | Nelson | Wolfeboro | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
6,571 |
10,101Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
| Nelson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% 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 | $1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 16% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nelson School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.