Compare towns

Hampton vs Meredith vs Wells vs Hampton Falls

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 renters (26.2% rent).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).

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.

MeasureHamptonMeredithWellsHampton Falls
People
Population
16,426Highest
6,758
11,713
2,328Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
49.5±7.3Lowest
27% 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%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hampton Falls and Wells 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%
31%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith and Wells 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%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%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%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Wells and Hampton Falls 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
18% above U.S.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
$88,024±$11k
9% above U.S.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$480,100±$48kLowest
44% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94
15% above U.S.
$1,149±$304Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
$1,852±$475Highest
31% above U.S.
Hampton Falls and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813
118% above U.S.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 min
4% above U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith and Hampton Falls 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 #22 of 133 in ME —
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Wells-Ogunquit CSD Hampton Falls School District
High school in town Winnacunnet High School Inter-Lakes High School Wells High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
11.1
11.4Highest
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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.