Compare towns
Meredith vs North Hampton vs Plainfield
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 expensive homes ($670k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
4,543 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Meredith and North Hampton 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%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and North 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%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| North Hampton and Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| North Hampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Plainfield 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 8% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest 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 | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District | Plainfield 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.