Compare towns
Albany vs Meredith vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Albany has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Orford has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Albany | Meredith | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790Lowest |
6,758Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±9.7Lowest 7% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Meredith and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Meredith and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.8%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Albany and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,639±$19kLowest 32% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH |
| Orford and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,300±$68kLowest 38% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$112 20% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH |
| Orford and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,554Lowest 62% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$5,836Highest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.2%±97.7 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.2%±18.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Albany 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.