Compare towns
Meredith vs North Hampton vs Atkinson
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%).
North Hampton has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | North Hampton | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
4,543Lowest |
7,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
50.5±3.3Lowest 17% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% 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% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Atkinson 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%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2 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% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson 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±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
| North Hampton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
| North Hampton and Atkinson 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 |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.