Compare towns
Belmont vs Meredith vs Ossipee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belmont has the youngest population (median age 47.2).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Belmont | Meredith | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,392Highest |
6,758 |
4,521Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Lowest 9% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
| Meredith and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Belmont and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$90,521±$22kHighest 9% below NH |
| Ossipee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $316,300±$31kLowest 21% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$129Lowest 33% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
| Ossipee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,585Highest 16% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±10.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #92 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Belmont High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| 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.