Compare towns

Kingston vs Mapleton vs Pelham 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 renters (25.6% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Meredith has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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.

MeasureKingstonMapletonPelhamMeredith
People
Population
6,275
1,884Lowest
14,449Highest
6,758
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.5±5.7Highest
43% above U.S.
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
Kids under 18
13.5%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Pelham 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%
18.3%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pelham and Mapleton 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.
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
Pelham 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
48% above U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
$480,100±$48k
44% above U.S.
Pelham and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,393±$156
about the U.S. average
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,425±$88Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
Pelham and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,906
153% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±46.4
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Meredith 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%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
15.7%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith and Pelham 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 — #48 of 120 in NH #62 of 120 in NH
School district Sanborn Regional School District RSU 79/MSAD 01 Pelham School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town Sanborn Regional High School None in town Pelham High School Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
—
10.4Lowest
11.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.