Compare towns

Center Harbor vs Meredith vs Ogunquit vs New Hampton

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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Meredith has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
New Hampton has the most affordable homes ($384k 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.

MeasureCenter HarborMeredithOgunquitNew Hampton
People
Population
955Lowest
6,758Highest
1,379
2,509
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
60.4±4.8
55% above U.S.
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
51.7±2.7Lowest
33% above U.S.
Ogunquit 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
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
13.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
New Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
39.5%±13.2
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.8%±5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,313±$16k
29% above U.S.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$95,250±$35k
18% above U.S.
Ogunquit 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±$74k
39% above U.S.
$480,100±$48k
44% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$383,700±$37kLowest
15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,149±$304Highest
19% below U.S.
—
$749±$433Lowest
47% below U.S.
Meredith and New Hampton 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.
$5,006Highest
61% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$4,973
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
14.3%±59.4
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
21.3%±21.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Meredith and New Hampton 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%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
Work from home
8.9%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.9%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #62 of 120 in NH — —
School district — Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District — Newfound Area School District
High school in town — Inter-Lakes High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
— —
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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.