Compare towns
Acton vs Hampton vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k 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 | Acton | Hampton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
16,426 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 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 | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Winnacunnet High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.1Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.