Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton Beach 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
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Meredith has the most affordable 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 | Hampstead | Hampton Beach | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Highest |
2,605Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Hampstead and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
| Hampstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.