Compare towns
Hampton vs Rye vs Townsend 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Rye | Townsend | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,611Lowest |
9,100 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rye and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Townsend 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District | North Middlesex | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.