Compare towns
Lempster vs Meredith vs Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lempster has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Bath has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Lempster | Meredith | Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953Lowest |
6,758Highest |
1,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2 17% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
48.6±8.6Lowest 12% above NH |
| Meredith and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bath and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.1%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lempster and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,607±$12k 13% below NH |
$87,019±$19kHighest 12% below NH |
$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH |
| Meredith and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,900±$29k 40% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH |
| Bath and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,558 32% below NH |
$5,006Highest 25% below NH |
$4,413Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 5%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lempster School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bath School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.