Compare towns
Thornton 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
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k 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 | Thornton | Meredith | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,799Lowest |
6,758 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Thornton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 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+ | 46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
| Hampton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% 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 | $1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
| Hampton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,032 25% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Thornton School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.