Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Stoneham vs Hampton Beach
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Stoneham | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101 |
6,758 |
23,355Highest |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham 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 20% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.