Compare towns
Hampton vs Rye vs Meredith vs Conway
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 oldest population (median age 55.8).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k 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 | Meredith | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,611Lowest |
6,758 |
10,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
55±4.1Lowest 27% 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%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Conway 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Conway 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±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
| Rye 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±$39k 37% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,095±$141Lowest 27% 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 |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
71.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6Lowest 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #76 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Conway School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Kennett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
11.7Highest |
| 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.