Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton 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
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hampton has the highest household income ($97k).
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 | Dover | Hampton | Hampton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,101 |
16,426 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above 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 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 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+ | 52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Winnacunnet High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 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.