Compare towns
Carroll 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
Carroll has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Carroll | Hampton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 659Lowest |
16,426Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
| Carroll and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Carroll and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
$95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,500±$42kLowest 35% below NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% 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 | $1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±47.5Lowest 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 | 5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%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 | 22 minLowest 19% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school 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.