Compare towns
Hampton vs Canaan 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 expensive homes ($550k median).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.
| Measure | Hampton | Canaan | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
3,811Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
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% |
14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan 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% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| 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 37% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| 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 9% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest about the NH average |
$5,985 10% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan 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 NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
10.3 |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.