Compare towns
Bow 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
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Bow | Hampton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
10,101Highest |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 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+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest 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 | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.