Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Hampton vs Exeter
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 homeowners (78.1%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Lowest |
16,426Highest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton 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% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampton 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 |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% 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 |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampton 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Winnacunnet High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.