Compare towns
Lancaster vs Meredith vs Wolfeboro vs Guildhall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
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 | Guildhall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216 |
6,758Highest |
6,571 |
371Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| 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%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±5.5Lowest 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+ | 30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Guildhall and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
| 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±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| 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 35% above U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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 | #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 | 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.