Compare towns

Hampton vs Brooks vs Meredith

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).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
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.

MeasureHamptonBrooksMeredith
People
Population
16,426Highest
1,208Lowest
6,758
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
45.9±6.6Lowest
18% above U.S.
55.5±3.7
43% 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%
17.1%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Brooks 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%
17%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
6.8%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooks 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.
$59,130±$10kLowest
27% below U.S.
$87,019±$19k
8% above 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.
$196,700±$33kLowest
41% below U.S.
$480,100±$48k
44% above 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.
$1,116±$112Lowest
21% below U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$2,096Lowest
33% below U.S.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
18%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Meredith 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%
19.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
14.5%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
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
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District RSU 03/MSAD 03 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 History 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.