Compare towns
Peterborough vs Hampton Beach vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peterborough has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Meredith has the most homeowners (75.8%).
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 | Peterborough | Hampton Beach | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408 |
2,605Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9Lowest 20% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% 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 | 16.3%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Peterborough and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest 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+ | 62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,401±$8kHighest about the NH average |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Peterborough and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$31kLowest about the NH average |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Peterborough and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 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 | 5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
62.9% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 16% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.