Compare towns
Hampton vs Fairlee 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 most expensive homes ($550k median).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Fairlee | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
1,066Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Hampton 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% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Meredith and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Fairlee 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% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee 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±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| 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±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.