Compare towns

Hampton vs Northbridge 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

Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

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.

MeasureHamptonNorthbridgeMeredith
People
Population
10,101
16,458Highest
6,758Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.2±1.7
32% above U.S.
43.8±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% 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%
21.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
26.9%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Northbridge 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.
$111,319±$19kHighest
38% above U.S.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
Northbridge and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$545,300±$63kHighest
64% above U.S.
$448,600±$15kLowest
35% above U.S.
$480,100±$48k
44% above U.S.
Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,654±$93Highest
17% above U.S.
$1,207±$102
15% below U.S.
$1,149±$304Lowest
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,872Highest
120% above U.S.
$4,821Lowest
55% above U.S.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±13.1
U.S.: 51.1%
51.2%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northbridge 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%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.5%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith and Hampton 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 #226 of 282 in MA #62 of 120 in NH
School district — Northbridge Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town — Northbridge High Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.8Lowest
11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.