Compare towns
Conway vs Hampden vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
Meredith has the most expensive 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.
| Measure | Conway | Hampden | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,141Highest |
7,896 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55±4.1 41% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,000±$43k 6% below U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$141Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,087 31% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Conway School District | RSU 22 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Kennett High School | Hampden Academy | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
14.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.