Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton vs Kensington 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 most renters (26.2% rent).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Hampstead | Hampton | Kensington | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
16,426Highest |
2,009Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest 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 |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
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% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest 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% |
48.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Kensington and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Kensington School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
— | 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.