Compare towns
Conway vs Meredith vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Conway has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Conway | Meredith | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,141Highest |
6,758 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.1 27% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Meredith and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Conway and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Conway and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
| Nelson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
| Nelson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 23% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Meredith 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 | #76 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Conway School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | Kennett High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.