Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Hampstead vs Plaistow
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).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Hampstead | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Lowest |
9,102Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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%±4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Hampstead and Plaistow 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 |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hampstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.