Compare towns
Jackson vs Meredith vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Rye has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Meredith | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897Lowest |
6,758Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
55.1±3Lowest 27% above NH |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Jackson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109k 79% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1k 17% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Rye and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001 10% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Jackson School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| 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.