Compare towns
Conway vs Durham 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
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Conway | Durham | Hampton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,141 |
10,681 |
16,426Highest |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.1 27% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
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 | 12.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Meredith and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Conway and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Durham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±13.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 23% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 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 | #76 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Conway School District | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Kennett High School | — | Winnacunnet High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.