Compare towns
Alstead vs Meredith 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
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Hampton has the most kids (14.6% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
6,758 |
10,101Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
| Alstead and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Alstead 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% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
| 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±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% 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 | — | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #31 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 |
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.