Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Salem
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 highest household income ($95k).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426 |
6,758Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
15.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest 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% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 65% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% 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% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Salem 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Salem |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
11.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.