Compare towns
Hampton vs Ogunquit vs Salem 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the most kids (16.2% under 18).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Ogunquit | Salem | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
1,379Lowest |
30,964Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Meredith 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Salem 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Salem 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Salem School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | — | Salem High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
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.