Compare towns
Peterborough vs South Hampton vs Meredith 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
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Peterborough | South Hampton | Meredith | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,408 |
984Lowest |
6,758Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9 20% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% 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 | 16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 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+ | 62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 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 | $98,401±$8k about the NH average |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$31kLowest about the NH average |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209 6% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| South Hampton and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,655 30% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 16% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | South Hampton School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.