Compare towns
Meredith vs Bridgewater vs Sanbornton
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 people working from home (23.7%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Sanbornton has the most kids (18.1% 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 | Meredith | Bridgewater | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
1,169Lowest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sanbornton and Meredith 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% |
33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Bridgewater 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% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Sanbornton 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 |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
$113,750±$41kHighest 15% above NH |
| Sanbornton 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±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
| Meredith and Sanbornton 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 |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,289±$198Highest 14% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$5,731Highest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Bridgewater 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% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
85.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Sanbornton 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 | — | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Newfound Area School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.