Compare towns
Meredith vs Kingston vs Sunapee vs Hampton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Kingston has the most kids (13.5% under 18).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k 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 | Kingston | Sunapee | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
6,275 |
3,416Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
55.5±5.7Lowest 28% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
| Sunapee and Hampton 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% |
13.5%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Kingston and Meredith 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% |
24.7%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Sunapee 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% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Kingston 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 |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Kingston and Sunapee 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 |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Hampton and Kingston 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 |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% 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 |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Sunapee School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sanborn Regional High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.9Highest |
11.9 |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.