Compare towns

Hampton vs Meredith vs Derry

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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureHamptonMeredithDerry
People
Population
10,101
6,758Lowest
34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+3.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
51.2±1.7
18% above NH
55.5±3.7Highest
28% above NH
40.3±1.6Lowest
7% below NH
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
NH: 18.2%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
20.7%±2.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
26.9%±3.1
NH: 20.1%
34.2%±5Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
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%
45.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
37.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.7
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.5Highest
NH: 6%
Derry 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
about the NH average
$87,019±$19kLowest
12% below NH
$108,944±$7kHighest
10% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$545,300±$63kHighest
35% above NH
$480,100±$48k
19% above NH
$432,000±$17kLowest
7% above NH
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
11% above NH
$1,149±$304Lowest
23% below NH
$1,547±$138
4% above NH
Hampton and Derry 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
$5,006Lowest
25% below NH
$8,103Highest
22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±13.1
NH: 48.2%
48.5%±9.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
51.6%±9Highest
NH: 48.2%
Derry and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%
NH: 72.8%
75.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
70.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
same as NH
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
3% below NH
26 min
about the NH average
31 minHighest
16% above NH
Work from home
20.5%±3.8
NH: 16.8%
23.7%±4.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
16%±2.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
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 #62 of 120 in NH #60 of 120 in NH
School district — Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town — Inter-Lakes High School Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
13.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.