Compare towns
Kingston vs Lee vs Wolfeboro 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
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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 | Lee | Wolfeboro | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275 |
4,576Lowest |
6,571 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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 NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Kingston 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 6% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Lee 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±$58k 22% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Highest 7% below NH |
— | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Kingston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 19% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 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.