Compare towns
Hampton vs Rochester 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 most expensive homes ($545k median).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Rochester | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,101 |
33,144Highest |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
43±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester 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% |
19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Rochester 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±$4kHighest about the NH average |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| 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 35% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| 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 11% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$5,334 20% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Meredith 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Rochester School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.