Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Putney 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%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
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 | Putney | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
2,622 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below 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% |
15.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Putney and Meredith 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and Meredith 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. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% 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 | — | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Meredith 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% 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 min 7% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.