Compare towns
Ossipee vs Meredith vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k 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 | Ossipee | Meredith | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521Lowest |
6,758 |
10,101Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
| Hampton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
| Hampton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.