Compare towns
Meredith vs Brooks vs Union
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 the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Brooks | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
1,208Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Meredith and Union 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. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,116±$112Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Meredith 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. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Union 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 | — | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 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.