Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Meredith vs Peterborough
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 homeowners (75.8%).
Peterborough has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
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 | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605Lowest |
6,758Highest |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
52.1±1.9Lowest 20% above 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% |
16.3%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Peterborough 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Lowest 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% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Peterborough 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 |
$98,401±$8kHighest about the NH average |
| Peterborough 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±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$404,500±$31kLowest 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±$130 8% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
| Peterborough 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 |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest 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% |
5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest 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 | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.