Compare towns
Dedham vs Meredith vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Dedham | Meredith | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
6,758 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dedham | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.