Compare towns

Auburn 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

Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
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.

MeasureAuburnHamptonMeredith
People
Population
6,119Lowest
16,426Highest
6,758
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+20%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.3±5.9Lowest
about the NH average
55.8±2.1Highest
29% above NH
55.5±3.7
28% above NH
Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
12.6%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
Auburn and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.4%±3.2Lowest
NH: 20.1%
30.9%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
34.2%±5Highest
NH: 20.1%
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+
55.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
42.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
45.9%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.2%±4.7Highest
NH: 6%
3.1%±1.1
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
Auburn and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,253±$6kHighest
55% above NH
$95,233±$9k
4% below NH
$87,019±$19kLowest
12% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$600,300±$29kHighest
49% above NH
$550,200±$39k
37% above NH
$480,100±$48kLowest
19% above NH
Auburn and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,893±$822Highest
27% above NH
$1,628±$94
9% above NH
$1,149±$304Lowest
23% below NH
Auburn and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,092Highest
21% above NH
$6,813
about the NH average
$5,006Lowest
25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.6%±27Lowest
NH: 48.2%
56.8%±10.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
48.5%±9.2
NH: 48.2%
Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.5%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
7.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
73.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
75.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
4% above NH
26 minLowest
3% below NH
26 min
about the NH average
Work from home
26.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
21.7%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
23.7%±4.9
NH: 16.8%
Auburn 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 #44 of 120 in NH #31 of 120 in NH #62 of 120 in NH
School district Auburn School District Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town Winnacunnet High School Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.1Lowest
11.1Highest
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.