Compare towns
Meredith vs Hampton Beach vs Hampton vs Center Harbor
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%).
Hampton has the most kids (14.6% under 18).
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Hampton | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
2,605 |
10,101Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| 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% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1 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±$19k 12% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
| Center Harbor 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 |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach 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 |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | — | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | — | — |
| 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.