Compare towns
Alstead vs Gorham vs Hampton vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Alstead | Gorham | Hampton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
2,682 |
16,426Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
53.9±3.6Lowest 24% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Alstead and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Meredith and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Winnacunnet High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
10.1 |
11.1Highest |
| 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.