Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Gilford 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).
Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Hampstead has the youngest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Gilford | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Lowest |
7,830 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Gilford 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% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Wolfeboro 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 |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Gilford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$456,500±$56kLowest 13% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampstead 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 |
$1,150±$747 23% below NH |
$1,299±$149Highest 13% below NH |
| Hampstead and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$4,868 27% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford 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% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampstead 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 | #45 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Gilford School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Gilford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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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.