Compare towns
Hampton vs Lee vs Meredith vs Hampstead
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 expensive homes ($550k median).
Lee has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Lee | Meredith | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
4,576Lowest |
6,758 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Hampstead 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Lee 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 4% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Lee and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| 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 9% above NH |
— | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.