Compare towns
Pelham vs Epping 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
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Pelham | Epping | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
7,430 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Pelham and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Epping School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Epping High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.