Compare towns
Effingham vs Meredith vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Middleton has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Effingham | Meredith | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912 |
6,758Highest |
1,595Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Meredith and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.9%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Middleton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$101,696±$8kHighest about the NH average |
| Middleton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,500±$293Highest about the NH average |
| Middleton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 23% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,504Highest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
39 minHighest 45% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Effingham 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.