Compare towns
Meredith vs Stratham vs Hampstead
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 oldest population (median age 55.5).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Stratham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
7,754 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hampstead 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% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Stratham 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 |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hampstead 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.