Compare towns
Harrison vs Meredith vs Deer Isle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harrison has the most affordable homes ($249k median).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Deer Isle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Harrison | Meredith | Deer Isle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,513 |
6,758Highest |
2,470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.6Highest 44% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
52.6±5.6Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Harrison and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Deer Isle and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Meredith and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,938±$6kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$62,284±$15k 23% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $249,300±$70kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$308,300±$42k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $885±$193Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,909±$927Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Deer Isle and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,731 12% below U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$1,890Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.4%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Harrison 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 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
8.0Lowest |
| 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.