Compare towns
Meredith vs Calais vs Putney
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%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 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 | Calais | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Putney 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% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Calais 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. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Calais and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Calais 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Calais 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 |
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.