Compare towns
Dunstable vs Hampton vs Meredith vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunstable has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k 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 | Dunstable | Hampton | Meredith | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,408Lowest |
16,426Highest |
6,758 |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,020 189% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Meredith 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.