Compare towns
Hampton vs North Hampton vs Plainfield 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).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | North Hampton | Plainfield | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
4,543 |
2,522Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
55.5±3.7 28% 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and North Hampton 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% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| North Hampton and Plainfield 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| North Hampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 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% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Meredith 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District | Plainfield 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.