Compare towns
Chatham vs Jackson 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
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Meredith has the most renters (24.2% rent).
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 | Chatham | Jackson | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
897 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6Lowest 12% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Chatham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Jackson 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 | — | Jackson 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.