Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Saco
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 expensive homes ($550k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426 |
6,758Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% 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% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Meredith 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco 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±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| 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 15% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.