Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Bow vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Meredith has the most renters (24.2% rent).
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 | Center Harbor | Bow | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
8,335Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Bow and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Bow and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.