Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Tuftonboro 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 oldest population (median age 60.4).
Tuftonboro has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Tuftonboro | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
2,569 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
51.9±7.5Lowest 20% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Tuftonboro 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 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±6.9Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Center Harbor 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 5% above NH |
$100,574±$16k about the NH average |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$462,300±$46kLowest 15% above NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
| Meredith and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,311±$358Highest 12% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Tuftonboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$3,004Lowest 55% below NH |
$5,006Highest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4 NH: 48.2% |
6.5%±28.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Center Harbor 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.3%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Tuftonboro 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 | — | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.