Compare towns
Meredith vs Norwich vs Hampton Beach
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Norwich | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
3,640 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich 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±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Norwich 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 |
U.S. 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.