Compare towns
Meredith vs Bedford 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
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Meredith | Bedford | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
23,746Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% 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 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 45.9% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bedford and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Bedford and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bedford School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Bedford High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.