Compare towns
Hampton vs Kennebunk 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 most expensive homes ($545k median).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Kennebunk | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
6,221Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
54.3±7.2 40% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Kennebunk 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% |
18.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Kennebunk 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% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,163±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$95,169±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$452,800±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,466±$261 4% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,771Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Meredith 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school 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 |
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.