Compare towns
Exeter 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
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Exeter | Meredith | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093Lowest |
6,758Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Lowest 35% 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 | 9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4Lowest 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+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | #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 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.