Compare towns
Hampton vs Ossipee vs Hampton Beach vs Meredith
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 highest household income ($97k).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% 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 | Ossipee | Hampton Beach | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
4,521 |
2,605Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% 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% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and 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% |
26.3%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest 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% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Hampton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hampton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NH: 72.8% |
82%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.