Compare towns
Meredith vs Brooks vs Center Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Brooks | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
1,208 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
45.9±6.6Lowest 18% above U.S. |
60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brooks and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Center Harbor 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks 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 8% above U.S. |
$59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$104,313±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor 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 44% above U.S. |
$196,700±$33kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$463,800±$74k 39% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,116±$112Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— |
| Meredith and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$2,096Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$4,667 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| High school 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 |
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.