Compare towns
Meredith vs Atkinson vs Hampstead
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Atkinson | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
7,267 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
| Atkinson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Atkinson 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% |
27.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Atkinson 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% |
42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead 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 |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,299±$149Highest 13% below NH |
| Hampstead and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson 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% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.