Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Meredith vs Bridgewater
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 kids (12.6% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($399k 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 | Meredith | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
6,758Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater 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%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Meredith and Bridgewater 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Lowest 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% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$87,019±$19kHighest 12% below NH |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
| Meredith and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115Highest 8% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Newfound Area 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 |
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.