Compare towns
Hampton vs Alstead 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 ($95k).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Meredith has the most kids (12.6% 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 | Alstead | Hampton Beach | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
1,551Lowest |
2,605 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Meredith and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Alstead 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±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$82,557±$17k 17% 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 | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% 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 | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
— | $1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest about the NH average |
$5,322 20% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.