Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Canaan 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).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Canaan | Meredith | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
3,811Lowest |
6,758 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest 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% |
14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan 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% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest 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% |
28.2%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% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro 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 |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% 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 |
$1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$5,985 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% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older 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 |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.3 |
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.