Compare towns
Kingston vs Ripton vs Meredith vs Wolfeboro
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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 | Ripton | Meredith | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275 |
508Lowest |
6,758Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7 43% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Kingston and Meredith 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.