Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Bedford vs Hampstead
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 oldest population (median age 57).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
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 | Bedford | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Lowest |
23,746Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Hampstead 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% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
| Bedford 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 |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Hampstead 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% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Bedford School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| 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.