Compare towns
Grafton vs Lebanon vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the most kids (21% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Grafton | Lebanon | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,354Lowest |
14,999Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±10.6 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Meredith and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Lebanon and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,243±$163 17% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,239 21% below NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±34.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 62% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Lebanon 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Lebanon School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Lebanon High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.