Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Stratham vs Hampton Beach
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Stratham | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
6,758 |
7,754 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stratham 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±$19k 12% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 3% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.