Compare towns
Exeter vs Meredith vs Newfields 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Newfields | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,758 |
2,023Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
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 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Newfields School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.