Compare towns
Hampton vs Dover vs Bow 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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Dover | Bow | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
33,364Highest |
8,335 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below 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% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Bow 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 |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Bow 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 |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Bow 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dover School District | Bow School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Dover Senior High School | Bow High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.7 |
12.8Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.