Compare towns
Hampton vs Hamilton 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 renters (26.2% rent).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Hamilton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
7,600 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% 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% |
24%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest 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% |
68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$129,833±$14kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$720,000±$36kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hamilton 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hamilton 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Hamilton-Wenham | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.8Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.