Compare towns
Hampton vs Rochester 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).
Rochester has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
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 | Rochester | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,837Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.5±6Lowest 20% 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% |
20.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Rochester 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% |
20.1%±4.2Lowest 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% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester 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 18% above U.S. |
$120,273±$12kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Hampton 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. |
$1,432±$743 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$6,530 109% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
9.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.