Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Meredith vs Bow
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%).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Meredith | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605Lowest |
6,758 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below 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 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Bow 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 |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
| Bow and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 8% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest 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 | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.