Compare towns

Hampton vs Brookline vs Meredith vs Hampton Beach

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 most expensive homes ($545k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% 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.

MeasureHamptonBrooklineMeredithHampton Beach
People
Population
10,101Highest
5,736
6,758
2,605Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+13%
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%
NH: +4.6%
+14.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
51.2±1.7
18% above NH
41.2±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
55.5±3.7
28% above NH
60.4±2.4Highest
39% 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
14.6%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
26.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
12.6%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
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%
33.7%±4.1
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+
44.2%
NH: 40.6%
57.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
45.9%
NH: 40.6%
34%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.7
NH: 6%
6.3%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.2
NH: 6%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
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±$19k
12% below NH
$82,557±$17kLowest
17% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$545,300±$63kHighest
35% above NH
$544,400±$38k
35% above NH
$480,100±$48kLowest
19% above NH
$508,900±$76k
26% 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
$1,375±$130
8% 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
$6,115
8% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±13.1
NH: 48.2%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.5%±9.2
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±20.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
Hampton Beach 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%
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7.7%
NH: 7.2%
8.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%
NH: 72.8%
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
75.8%
NH: 72.8%
62.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
same as NH
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
1975
4 yrs older than NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below NH
33 minHighest
25% above NH
26 min
about the NH average
25 minLowest
5% below NH
Work from home
20.5%±3.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
24.7%±5.8
NH: 16.8%
23.7%±4.9
NH: 16.8%
26.9%±6.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
Hampton Beach and Brookline 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
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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.