Compare towns
Hampton vs Meredith vs Surry
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%).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
6,758 |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% 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% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry 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 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry 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 4% below NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
| Surry and Hampton 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 |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
| 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±$94 9% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Surry and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest about the NH average |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest 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% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Lowest 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 | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| 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.