Compare towns
Salisbury vs Meredith vs Hampton Falls vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Salisbury | Meredith | Hampton Falls | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,656 |
6,758Highest |
2,328Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 31% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7k 15% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31k 40% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444 25% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
| Hampton Falls and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561 46% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton Falls 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampton Falls School District | Lee |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.