Compare towns
Nottingham vs Meredith 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
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
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 | Nottingham | Meredith | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,357Lowest |
6,758 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Nottingham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20kHighest 23% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Nottingham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26kLowest 14% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Nottingham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319 10% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None 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.