Compare towns
Hampton vs Plainfield vs Atkinson 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).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Plainfield | Atkinson | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
2,522Lowest |
7,267 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Atkinson 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Atkinson 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2 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% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Atkinson 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 |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Atkinson 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 9% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Plainfield and Hampton 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 |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Hampton 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | Timberlane Regional 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 History | 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.