Compare towns
Meredith vs Rye vs Hampton Beach
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 the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Rye | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
5,611 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
55.1±3Lowest 27% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above 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% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 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% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Rye 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 |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Rye and Meredith 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest 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% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hampton Beach 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Rye 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 |
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.