Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Jackson 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 most affordable homes ($464k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Jackson | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955 |
897Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8 39% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
| Jackson and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Meredith and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Lowest 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% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Jackson 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 |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Jackson and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Jackson 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Jackson 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 | — | Jackson School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.