Compare towns
Meredith vs Conway 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%).
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
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 | Conway | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
10,141Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
55±4.1 27% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
| Meredith and Conway 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% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Conway and Meredith 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
| Hampstead and Meredith 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 |
$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and Meredith 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 |
$1,095±$141Lowest 27% 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 | $5,006 25% below NH |
$4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
71.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampstead 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 | #76 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Conway School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Kennett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.