Compare towns
Meredith vs North Hampton vs Hampton Beach vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Hampton Beach | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
4,543 |
2,605Lowest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Sanbornton 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%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton Beach 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% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Meredith and North 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±$19k 12% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| North Hampton and Sanbornton 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$452,300±$30kLowest 12% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$5,731 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and North 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | — | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District | — | Winnisquam 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 | 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.