Compare towns

Brookfield vs Meredith vs Ossipee vs New Durham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
New Durham has the highest household income ($100k).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldMeredithOssipeeNew Durham
People
Population
567Lowest
6,758Highest
4,521
2,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+2.1%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
58.1±9.7Highest
34% above NH
55.5±3.7
28% above NH
50±4.6
15% above NH
46.5±7.5Lowest
7% above NH
Brookfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
8.6%±4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
12.6%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
19.5%±4.5Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.8%±5.6
NH: 18.2%
Ossipee and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
38.4%±3.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
34.2%±5
NH: 20.1%
26.3%±5.9
NH: 20.1%
23.8%±4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Brookfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.8%
NH: 40.6%
45.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
24.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
34.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±5Highest
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.2
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.7
NH: 6%
1%±0.7Lowest
NH: 6%
Brookfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,406±$31kLowest
18% below NH
$87,019±$19k
12% below NH
$90,521±$22k
9% below NH
$100,194±$13kHighest
about the NH average
New Durham and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$428,000±$61k
6% above NH
$480,100±$48kHighest
19% above NH
$325,500±$23kLowest
19% below NH
$339,400±$27k
16% below NH
Meredith and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,149±$304Lowest
23% below NH
$1,601±$245Highest
7% above NH
$1,417±$116
5% below NH
Ossipee and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,926Highest
11% below NH
$5,006
25% below NH
$4,401Lowest
34% below NH
$5,774
13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
48.5%±9.2
NH: 48.2%
72%±16.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
25%±42.7Lowest
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
3.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7.7%
NH: 7.2%
8.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
5.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
75.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82%
NH: 72.8%
94%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1979
same as NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
26 minLowest
about the NH average
33 min
25% above NH
35 minHighest
30% above NH
Work from home
13.7%±6.8
NH: 16.8%
23.7%±4.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
10%±4.1
NH: 16.8%
Meredith and Brookfield 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 #100 of 120 in NH —
School district — Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Governor Wentworth Regional School District Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town — Inter-Lakes High School None in town None in town
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.