Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton vs Hanover 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 has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
16,426Highest |
11,685 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below 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 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hampton 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Hanover High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
10.7 |
11.1Highest |
| 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.