Compare towns
Hampton vs Canterbury vs Seabrook 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).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Canterbury | Seabrook | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
2,353Lowest |
8,427 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
48.6±3.8Lowest 12% above NH |
54±1.9 25% 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% |
17.4%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Canterbury and Seabrook 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% |
22.9%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Seabrook 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% |
49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury 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 |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Canterbury 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 |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$443,500±$40kLowest 10% above 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±$94 9% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,542±$174 3% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$7,421Highest 11% above NH |
$5,785 13% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
5.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #114 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Shaker Regional School District | Seabrook School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | 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.