Compare towns
Hampton vs Amherst vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Amherst has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Hampton | Amherst | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101 |
11,861Highest |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
45.9±3.5Lowest 6% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Amherst and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hampton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 3% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Souhegan Coop High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.