Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Hampton Beach vs Epping 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 most expensive homes ($547k median).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
Epping has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Alton has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Hampton Beach | Epping | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
2,605Lowest |
7,430Highest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8 32% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Wolfeboro 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% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Epping 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% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Epping 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±$22k 5% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
| Alton and Epping 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 |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton Beach 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 |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
— |
| Epping and Hampton Beach 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 |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Epping School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | — | Epping High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.