Compare towns
Jefferson vs Meredith vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k median).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Meredith | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
6,758Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
53±4Lowest 22% above NH |
| Jefferson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stoddard and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stoddard and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$94,904±$11kHighest 4% below NH |
| Stoddard and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92kLowest 26% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
$1,149±$304Highest 23% below NH |
$895±$751 40% below NH |
| Meredith and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,006Highest 25% below NH |
$4,316 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 29% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Jefferson 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 | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 14 photos → | 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.