Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Hampton vs Meredith vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampton has the most kids (14.6% under 18).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Hampton Beach | Hampton | Meredith | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,605 |
10,101Highest |
6,758 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 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+ | 34% NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 8% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.