Compare towns
Hampton vs Mount Desert vs Hampton vs Meredith
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).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hampton has the youngest population (median age 51.2).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Mount Desert | Hampton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
1,671Lowest |
10,101 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
54.9±8.2 41% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Lowest 32% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% 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% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Mount Desert 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% |
29.1%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest 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% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mount Desert 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 18% above U.S. |
$92,813±$9k 15% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 65% above U.S. |
$522,100±$66k 57% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampton 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. |
$1,341±$89 5% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Hampton 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Mount Desert Public Schools | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.