Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Barnstead vs Meredith 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
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% 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 | Wolfeboro | Barnstead | Meredith | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
4,994Lowest |
6,758 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 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% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Barnstead and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest 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 | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Barnstead School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 11.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.