Compare towns
Hampton vs Epping vs Plaistow 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Epping | Plaistow | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
7,430 |
7,861 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Epping and Plaistow 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 |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Plaistow and Epping 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 |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$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 |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Epping and Plaistow 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Epping High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
9.3Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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.