Compare towns
Hampton vs Ogunquit vs Bow 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 renters (25.5% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Bow | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
1,379Lowest |
8,335 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Meredith 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Bow and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
— | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Bow 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Bow School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Bow High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
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.