Compare towns
Hampton vs Smithfield vs Hampton Falls 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).
Smithfield has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Smithfield | Hampton Falls | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
22,233Highest |
2,328Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% 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% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Smithfield 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% |
21.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Hampton 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton Falls 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Smithfield | Hampton Falls School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Smithfield High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— | 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.