Compare towns
Hampton vs Stratham vs Hooksett 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).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Stratham | Hooksett | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
7,754 |
15,057 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hooksett 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hampton 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hooksett School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| 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.