Compare towns
Kingston vs Ashby vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
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 | Kingston | Ashby | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275 |
3,211Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kingston and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Kingston and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Ashby 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #200 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | North Middlesex | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.