Compare towns
Hampton vs Hampton Falls vs Nelson 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 renters (26.2% rent).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Hampton Falls | Nelson | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
2,328 |
648Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
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% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hampton Falls 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 4% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Hampton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Meredith 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Hampton Falls School District | Nelson School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| 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.