Compare towns
Hampton vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
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 | Jackson | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
897Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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% |
28.4%±6.4Lowest 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% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Jackson 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 |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Jackson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Jackson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest about the NH average |
$6,001 10% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Jackson 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 | Jackson 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 Our Story | 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.