Compare towns
Lancaster vs Meredith vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Lancaster | Meredith | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Lowest |
6,758Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest 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+ | 30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,149±$304Highest 23% below NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,006Highest 25% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.