Compare towns
Alton vs Center Harbor 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
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Alton | Center Harbor | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
955Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Lowest 24% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Alton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Alton and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
| Meredith and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,667 30% below NH |
$5,006Highest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 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.