Compare towns
Canaan vs Meredith vs Wolfeboro vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Canaan | Meredith | Wolfeboro | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
6,758Highest |
6,571 |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,149±$304Highest 23% below NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Meredith and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
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| 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.