Compare towns
Hampton vs Gray vs Meredith vs Hampstead
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).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Hampstead has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Gray | Meredith | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
8,429 |
6,758Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% 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% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Gray 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% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Hampstead 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. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Gray 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. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampstead 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. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Gray 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #62 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
11.1 |
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| 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.