Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Mapleton vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Mapleton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
1,884 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 39% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 50% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.