Compare towns
Derry vs Meredith vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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 | Derry | Meredith | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
6,758 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Derry and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Derry and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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.