Compare towns
Hampton vs Wells vs Meredith vs Seabrook
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Wells | Meredith | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
11,713 |
6,758Lowest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
54±1.9 39% 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%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Seabrook 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% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Wells 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. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$443,500±$40kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,542±$174 9% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,785 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Seabrook 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #62 of 120 in NH | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Seabrook School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Wells High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
11.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.