Compare towns

Hampton vs Bow vs Meredith vs Hampton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).

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.

MeasureHamptonBowMeredithHampton
People
Population
10,101
8,335
6,758Lowest
16,426Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+9.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
51.2±1.7
18% above NH
41.5±2Lowest
4% below NH
55.5±3.7
28% above NH
55.8±2.1Highest
29% above NH
Hampton and Meredith 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%
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
12.6%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
26.9%±3.1
NH: 20.1%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
34.2%±5Highest
NH: 20.1%
30.9%±2.8
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%
NH: 40.6%
60.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
45.9%
NH: 40.6%
42.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.7
NH: 6%
5.6%±1.9Highest
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
3.1%±1.1
NH: 6%
Bow 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
$172,857±$16kHighest
75% above NH
$87,019±$19kLowest
12% below NH
$95,233±$9k
4% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$545,300±$63k
35% above NH
$506,500±$34k
26% above NH
$480,100±$48kLowest
19% above NH
$550,200±$39kHighest
37% above NH
Hampton and Hampton 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
$1,539±$178
3% above NH
$1,149±$304Lowest
23% below NH
$1,628±$94
9% above NH
Hampton and Hampton 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
$9,584Highest
44% above NH
$5,006Lowest
25% below NH
$6,813
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±13.1
NH: 48.2%
39%±13.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.5%±9.2
NH: 48.2%
56.8%±10.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%
NH: 7.2%
2.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%
NH: 72.8%
87.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
75.8%
NH: 72.8%
73.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
same as NH
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
3% below NH
27 minHighest
about the NH average
26 min
about the NH average
26 minLowest
3% below NH
Work from home
20.5%±3.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
22.7%±4.7
NH: 16.8%
23.7%±4.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
21.7%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
Meredith and Bow 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 #26 of 120 in NH #62 of 120 in NH #31 of 120 in NH
School district — Bow School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town — Bow High School Inter-Lakes High School Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
11.1
10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.