Compare towns

Alstead vs Hampton Beach vs Meredith vs Ogunquit

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
Meredith has the most kids (12.6% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureAlsteadHampton BeachMeredithOgunquit
People
Population
1,551
2,605
6,758Highest
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56±3.3
44% above U.S.
60.4±2.4
55% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Lowest
43% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Meredith and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.7%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ogunquit 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±$11kLowest
20% below U.S.
$82,557±$17k
about the U.S. average
$87,019±$19k
8% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
Ogunquit 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±$37kLowest
18% below U.S.
$508,900±$76k
53% above U.S.
$480,100±$48k
44% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,375±$130Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,149±$304Lowest
19% below U.S.
—
Hampton Beach and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,322
71% above U.S.
$6,115Highest
96% above U.S.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.7%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Alstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12.1%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Hampton Beach 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 — — #62 of 120 in NH —
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District — Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District —
High school in town None in town — Inter-Lakes High School —
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.