Compare towns
Hampton vs Appleton vs Meredith vs Conway
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 ($550k median).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Conway has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Appleton | Meredith | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
1,360Lowest |
6,758 |
10,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
55±4.1 41% 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% |
15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Meredith 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% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Conway and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Conway and Appleton 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 18% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$64,385±$8k 20% below 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 | $550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$314,000±$43k 6% below 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 | $1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,095±$141Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,087 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #76 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Appleton Public Schools | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Conway School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Kennett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.