Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Stoneham vs North Hampton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101 |
6,758 |
23,355Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% 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% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 120% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer 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 7% 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% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Stoneham | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.