Compare towns
Hampton vs Rye vs Bow 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Rye | Bow | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,611Lowest |
8,335 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% 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% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Rye 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% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Bow 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 |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Bow and Rye 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Rye 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District | Bow School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Bow High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.