Compare towns
Meredith vs Hampton Beach vs Ogunquit vs Center Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the youngest population (median age 55.5).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Center Harbor has the most affordable homes ($464k 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 | Ogunquit | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
2,605 |
1,379 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Lowest 43% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4 55% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
60.4±4.8 55% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Meredith and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±13.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit 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 8% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$463,800±$74kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
— | — |
| 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 61% above U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,667 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Hampton Beach 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 | — | — | — |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.