Compare towns
Hampton vs Dedham vs North Hampton vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Dedham | North Hampton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101 |
25,237Highest |
4,543Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham 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 20% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Dedham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 120% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #12 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dedham | North Hampton School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.