Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Meredith vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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.

MeasureBethlehemMeredithWindham
People
Population
2,537Lowest
6,758
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
50.6±8.5
17% above NH
55.5±3.7Highest
28% above NH
41.1±2.9Lowest
5% below NH
Meredith and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±5.4
NH: 18.2%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
28.2%±5.5
NH: 20.1%
34.2%±5Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Meredith and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
45.9%
NH: 40.6%
62.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.9Lowest
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.2
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
Windham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,029±$18kLowest
14% below NH
$87,019±$19k
12% below NH
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,300±$22kLowest
28% below NH
$480,100±$48k
19% above NH
$723,300±$50kHighest
80% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81
21% below NH
$1,149±$304Lowest
23% below NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,418
19% below NH
$5,006Lowest
25% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.3%±18.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.5%±9.2
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
Windham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
7.7%
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.3%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
75.8%
NH: 72.8%
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1975
4 yrs older than NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below NH
26 min
about the NH average
31 minHighest
15% above NH
Work from home
31.2%±12.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
23.7%±4.9
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Bethlehem 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 #34 of 120 in NH #62 of 120 in NH #13 of 120 in NH
School district Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Windham School District
High school in town Profile Senior High School Inter-Lakes High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
11.1
12.8Highest
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.