Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Meredith vs Hampton vs Sunapee
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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Hampton has the youngest population (median age 51.2).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k 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 | Meredith | Hampton | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
6,758 |
10,101Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee 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% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Hampton 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 |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
| Sunapee 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±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton 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 |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee 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 |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.