Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Hooksett vs Hampton 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).
Hooksett has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
Alton has the most homeowners (93.7%).
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 | Hooksett | Hampton | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
15,057 |
16,426Highest |
5,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
53.7±3.2 24% 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% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Hooksett and Alton 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 |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
— |
| Hooksett and Hampton 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Hooksett 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest 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 |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
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.