Compare towns
Bartlett vs Center Harbor vs Meredith vs Albany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Center Harbor has the highest household income ($104k).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Albany has the most affordable homes ($248k 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 | Bartlett | Center Harbor | Meredith | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,281 |
955 |
6,758Highest |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7 33% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
46.5±9.7Lowest 7% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.3%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Meredith and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36.1%±9.6 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
37.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±4Highest NH: 6% |
| Albany and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,754±$9kLowest 40% below NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$67,639±$19k 32% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,400±$78k 8% below NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$248,300±$68kLowest 38% below 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 | $1,676±$97Highest 12% above NH |
— | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,194±$112 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$4,667 30% below NH |
$5,006Highest 25% below NH |
$2,554 62% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.2%±97.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Bartlett and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.2%±18.5 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bartlett School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.