Compare towns
Hampton vs Bethlehem vs Hampton 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 most renters (26.2% rent).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Hampton has the highest household income ($97k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Bethlehem | Hampton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
2,537Lowest |
10,101 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Hampton 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% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hampton 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 |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Hampton and Hampton 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 |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$5,418 19% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Profile Senior High School | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
8.9Lowest |
— | 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.