Compare towns
Hampton vs Reading vs Ripton 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 expensive homes ($550k median).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Reading | Ripton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 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% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Reading 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 | — | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 |
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.