Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Mapleton vs Union 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 highest household income ($104k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Union | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 955Lowest |
1,884 |
2,663 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 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%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 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% |
34.4% 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% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Union 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. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,019±$19k 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. |
$267,600±$42k 20% 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. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
| Union and Meredith 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. |
$3,276 5% above 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% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%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% |
85.9% 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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% 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% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Union 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.