Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Stratham vs North Hampton
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 renters (25.5% rent).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
6,758 |
7,754 |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
50.5±3.3 17% 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% 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% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 3% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hampton 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer 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 8% 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% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | 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.