Compare towns
Meredith vs Hampton Beach vs Hampton vs Sunapee
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 most kids (12.6% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k 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 | Hampton | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
2,605Lowest |
16,426Highest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton Beach 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% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Hampton 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 |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
| Sunapee 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 |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Hampton 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 |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest 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 | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Winnacunnet High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 10.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.