Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Sunapee vs Bow vs Hampton
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).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Sunapee | Bow | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
3,416Lowest |
8,335 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
55.8±2.1 29% 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% 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 |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% 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 |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Bow 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Bow 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Sunapee School District | Bow School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Bow High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.9 |
12.8Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.