Compare towns
Meredith vs Derry 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 the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Derry | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
34,116Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Derry 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Derry 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 |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
| Hampstead and Derry 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 |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above 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±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Derry and Hampstead 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 |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%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 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
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| 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.