Compare towns
Meredith vs Hampton Beach vs Center Harbor vs New Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Center Harbor has the highest household income ($104k).
New Hampton has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Hampton Beach | Center Harbor | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
2,605 |
955Lowest |
2,509 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
51.7±2.7Lowest 19% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor 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% NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| New 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±$19k 12% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$95,250±$35k 4% below NH |
| Center Harbor and New 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 |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$383,700±$37kLowest 5% below NH |
| Hampton Beach 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 |
$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
— | $749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
| Hampton Beach 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 |
$6,115Highest 8% below NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$4,973 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | — | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.