Compare towns
Hampton vs Needham vs Hampton Beach vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
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 | Needham | Hampton Beach | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101 |
32,459Highest |
2,605Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 120% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Hampton Beach 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Needham | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.