Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Salem
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%).
Salem has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101 |
6,758Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above 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% |
16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Salem 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% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest 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% |
38.7%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% |
| Salem 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 |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% 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 |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Hampton and Salem 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 |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.