Compare towns
Meredith vs Alton vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
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 | Meredith | Alton | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
5,994Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
53.7±3.2Lowest 24% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% 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 | 12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Alton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 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+ | 45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Alton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
— | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Prospect Mountain High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.