Compare towns
Hampden 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
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Hampden | Hampton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896 |
16,426Highest |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% 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 | 25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 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+ | 45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% 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 | $1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 22 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | Winnacunnet High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
10.1Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

