Compare towns
Hampton vs Gardner vs Meredith vs North Hampton
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 oldest population (median age 55.8).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Gardner | Meredith | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
21,148Highest |
6,758 |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% 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% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 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% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner 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±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Gardner | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Gardner High | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.