Compare towns
Dorset vs Enfield vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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 | Dorset | Enfield | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
4,475 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| Enfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.7%±7.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Meredith and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$95,474±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$390,800±$71kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,181±$563 16% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$6,203 99% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #5 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.