Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Jay vs Meredith vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
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 | Jay | Meredith | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
471Lowest |
6,758 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Lowest 34% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampton and Meredith 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 17% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| 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 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 45% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 11.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.