Compare towns

Hampton vs Kennebunk vs Meredith vs Hampton Falls

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).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).

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.

MeasureHamptonKennebunkMeredithHampton Falls
People
Population
16,426Highest
11,820
6,758
2,328Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
54.6±3.3
40% above U.S.
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
49.5±7.3Lowest
27% 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%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hampton Falls and Kennebunk 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%
30%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6Lowest
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%
51.2%
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%
2.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
18% above U.S.
$107,804±$8k
34% above U.S.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$487,700±$21k
47% above U.S.
$480,100±$48kLowest
44% above U.S.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94
15% above U.S.
$1,425±$290
about the U.S. average
$1,149±$304Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,852±$475Highest
31% above U.S.
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
118% above U.S.
$4,999Lowest
60% above U.S.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.1%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.5%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Kennebunk 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 #9 of 133 in ME #62 of 120 in NH —
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District RSU 21 Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Hampton Falls School District
High school in town Winnacunnet High School Kennebunk High School Inter-Lakes High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
11.6Highest
11.1
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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.