Compare towns
Hampton vs Acton vs Meredith vs North Hampton
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 (26.2% rent).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Acton | Meredith | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
24,155Highest |
6,758 |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
| Acton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
| Acton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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 | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and North 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Acton-Boxborough | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.