Compare towns
Alstead vs Hampton vs Meredith vs Rye
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 most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Alstead | Hampton | Meredith | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
16,426Highest |
6,758 |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
55.1±3Lowest 27% 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Meredith 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% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Rye 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 NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Hampton 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 35% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Meredith 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
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.