Compare towns

Ellsworth vs Hampton 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

Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k 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.

MeasureEllsworthHamptonMeredith
People
Population
8,657
10,101Highest
6,758Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±2.4Lowest
11% above U.S.
51.2±1.7
32% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Ellsworth and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
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+
39.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ellsworth and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,375±$18kLowest
4% below U.S.
$97,163±$4kHighest
20% above U.S.
$87,019±$19k
8% above U.S.
Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
$545,300±$63kHighest
64% above U.S.
$480,100±$48k
44% above U.S.
Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,654±$93Highest
17% above U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
$6,872Highest
120% above U.S.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±13.1
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #63 of 133 in ME #31 of 120 in NH #62 of 120 in NH
School district Ellsworth Public Schools — Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town Ellsworth High School — Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
—
11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 5 photos → 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.