Compare towns
South Hooksett 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
South Hooksett has the highest household income ($130k).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | South Hooksett | Hampton Beach | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902 |
2,605Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below 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%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hooksett and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40kLowest 8% above NH |
$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 | $1,471±$217Highest about the NH average |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| South Hooksett and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801Highest about the NH average |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25Lowest 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 | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| 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.