Compare towns
Meredith vs Hampton vs Atkinson vs Gilford
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 people working from home (23.7%).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Gilford has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Atkinson | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
10,101Highest |
7,267 |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
48.2±3.9Lowest 11% above NH |
| Atkinson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford 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% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson 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±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Atkinson and Gilford 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 |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$456,500±$56kLowest 13% above NH |
| Atkinson and Hampton 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 |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,150±$747 23% below NH |
| Hampton and Gilford 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 |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$6,918Highest 4% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Gilford 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% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.5Highest |
| 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.