Compare towns
Durham 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Meredith | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
6,758 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% 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 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest 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+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Durham and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Durham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
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.