Compare towns
Meredith vs Hampton vs Hampton Falls 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
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Hampton Falls | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
10,101Highest |
2,328 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Hampton 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% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Lowest 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% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
— |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Meredith 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampton Falls 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 | — | Hampton Falls 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.