Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Bridgewater
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).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($399k 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 | Meredith | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
6,758 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest 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%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
| Hampton and Meredith 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 |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average |
| Hampton and Meredith 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±$304 23% below NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest about the NH average |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | 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 | 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.