Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Hampstead vs Hampton Falls vs Alton
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).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Hampstead | Hampton Falls | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
9,102Highest |
2,328Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Alton 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% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Hampton Falls 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%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Alton 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% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Hampton Falls 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 |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
— |
| Hampton Falls and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 32% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampstead and Alton 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% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton Falls 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hampstead School District | Hampton Falls School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | 11.1 |
| 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.