Compare towns
Hampton vs Danvers vs Northbridge 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 expensive homes ($644k median).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Danvers | Northbridge | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
28,098Highest |
16,458 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Danvers 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% |
22.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest 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% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge 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±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Northbridge 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±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,006 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% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than 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. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #226 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 | Northbridge | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Northbridge High | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.8 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.