Compare towns
Meredith vs Bethlehem vs Kingston
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Kingston has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Bethlehem | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
2,537Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Kingston 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±$19k 12% below NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
| Kingston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| Kingston and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,393±$156Highest 7% below NH |
| Kingston and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Profile Senior High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
8.9Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.