Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Meredith vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Meredith has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 Falls | Meredith | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328 |
6,758Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Meredith and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton Falls and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.