Compare towns
Hampton vs Needham vs Winchester 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
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 | Needham | Winchester | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
32,459Highest |
23,406 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% 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% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Winchester 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. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Needham 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. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Needham and Winchester 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Winchester and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Needham | Winchester | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Needham High | Winchester High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.9 |
14.8Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.