Compare towns
North Hampton vs Hampton Beach vs Meredith vs Stratham
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | North Hampton | Hampton Beach | Meredith | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543 |
2,605Lowest |
6,758 |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% 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 | 19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stratham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 28% above NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
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| 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.