Compare towns
Hampton vs New Castle vs Rye vs Meredith
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 renters (26.2% rent).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Rye has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | New Castle | Rye | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
827Lowest |
5,611 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
55.1±3Lowest 27% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| New Castle and Hampton 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% |
12.9%±7.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and New Castle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Meredith 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 NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Meredith 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 |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89k 155% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$8,509Highest 28% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 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% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Rye 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | New Castle School District | Rye School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town | 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 | 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.