Compare towns

Hampton vs Hampton vs Wakefield 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

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
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.

MeasureHamptonHamptonWakefieldMeredith
People
Population
10,101
16,426
27,793Highest
6,758Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.2±1.7
32% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
42.4±1.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Wakefield and Hampton 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%
30.9%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wakefield 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.
$95,233±$9k
18% above U.S.
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$545,300±$63k
64% above U.S.
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
$480,100±$48kLowest
44% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,654±$93
17% above U.S.
$1,628±$94
15% above U.S.
$1,958±$102Highest
39% above U.S.
$1,149±$304Lowest
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,872
120% above U.S.
$6,813
118% above U.S.
$7,779Highest
149% above U.S.
$5,006Lowest
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±13.1
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Wakefield 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 #31 of 120 in NH #179 of 282 in MA #62 of 120 in NH
School district — Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town — Winnacunnet High School Northeast Metro Regional Vocational Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.1Lowest
10.7
11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.