Compare towns
Hampton vs South Hadley 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 expensive homes ($550k median).
South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
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 | South Hadley | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426 |
17,754Highest |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.6±2.6Lowest 10% 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% |
12.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hadley 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% |
23.3%±2.5Lowest 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% |
50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$93,910±$15k 16% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$357,900±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Meredith 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. |
$1,325±$54 6% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,500 76% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and South Hadley 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±4.6Lowest 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 | #216 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | South Hadley | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | South Hadley High | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
8.6Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.