Compare towns
Hampton vs Ipswich 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Ipswich has the highest household income ($139k).
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 | Ipswich | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101 |
13,930Highest |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
47.2±3.5Lowest 21% 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% |
18.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ipswich 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% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest 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% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ipswich 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. |
$138,750±$16kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$745,400±$40kHighest 124% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,598±$90 13% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Ipswich 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. |
$7,960Highest 155% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±12.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ipswich 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 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 |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Ipswich | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Ipswich High | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.