Compare towns
Carroll vs Meredith vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carroll has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k 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 | Carroll | Meredith | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 659Lowest |
6,758Highest |
1,013 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
58±3.5 34% above NH |
| Carroll and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Meredith and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Carroll and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
$87,019±$19kHighest 12% below NH |
$67,188±$13k 32% below NH |
| Meredith and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,500±$42kLowest 35% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$241 28% below NH |
$1,149±$304Highest 23% below NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
| Meredith and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
$5,006Highest 25% below NH |
$4,196 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±47.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Jefferson 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 | — |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.