Compare towns
Hampton vs Brookline 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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k 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 | Brookline | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
5,736Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline 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 |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Brookline 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Brookline School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| 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.