Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton vs Kittery 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
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Kittery | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
16,426Highest |
10,473 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% 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 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 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+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Kittery 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 39% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Kittery and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest 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 | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Kittery Public Schools | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Robert W Traip Academy | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
9.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.