Compare towns
Kingston vs Meredith vs Townsend
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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Kingston | Meredith | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275Lowest |
6,758 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 30% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% 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±$156 about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Kingston 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. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
11.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.