Compare towns
Hampton vs Danvers vs Canton 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
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 | Danvers | Canton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
28,098Highest |
24,748 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% 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% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canton and Danvers 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 18% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Canton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Canton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Canton High | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.8 |
13.1Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.