Compare towns

Hampton vs Bellows Falls vs Meredith vs Hampton Beach

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 highest household income ($95k).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Meredith has the most homeowners (75.8%).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

MeasureHamptonBellows FallsMeredithHampton Beach
People
Population
16,426Highest
2,891
6,758
2,605Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1
43% above U.S.
41.3±6.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
60.4±2.4Highest
55% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.6%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
23.7%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.7%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bellows Falls 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
18% above U.S.
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% below U.S.
$87,019±$19k
8% above U.S.
$82,557±$17k
about the U.S. average
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.
$195,600±$35kLowest
41% below U.S.
$480,100±$48k
44% above U.S.
$508,900±$76k
53% above U.S.
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
15% above U.S.
$1,038±$109Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
$1,375±$130
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$4,448Lowest
43% above U.S.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
$6,115
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4
U.S.: 51.1%
43.9%±16.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
61.7%±20.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
4% below U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District —
High school in town Winnacunnet High School — Inter-Lakes High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
—
11.1Highest
—
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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.