Compare towns
Hampton vs Auburn vs Meredith vs Hampton Beach
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the highest household income ($153k).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
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 | Auburn | Meredith | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
6,119 |
6,758 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn 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 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 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% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn 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 4% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
| Auburn and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
| Auburn and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$8,092Highest 21% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Auburn 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.