Compare towns
Hampton vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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.
| Measure | Hampton | Reading | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
699Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Lowest 31% 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Reading 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampton and Reading 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 20% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Meredith 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 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 |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Reading 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 |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
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.