Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Rochester
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 the most people working from home (23.7%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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.
| Measure | Hampton | Meredith | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101 |
6,758Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
43±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
| Rochester 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±$4kHighest about the NH average |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Hampton and Meredith 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 |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below 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 |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,334 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest 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 | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.