Compare towns
Hampton vs Kingston vs Meredith vs Epping
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).
Kingston has the highest household income ($105k).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Kingston | Meredith | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
6,275Lowest |
6,758 |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Epping 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Epping and Kingston 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 |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
| Kingston and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
| Hampton and Kingston 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 |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping 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 |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping 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% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Sanborn Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | — | Sanborn Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.1 |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.