Compare towns
Hancock vs Newfields 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
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Hancock | Newfields | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Lowest |
2,023 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Meredith and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22kLowest 8% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Newfields and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 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 | — | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Newfields School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.