Compare towns
Meredith vs Croydon vs Bethlehem
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 expensive homes ($480k median).
Croydon has the youngest population (median age 43).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
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 | Croydon | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
798Lowest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
43±9.1Lowest about the NH average |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
| Meredith and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Croydon and Bethlehem 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% |
27.4%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 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% |
21.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Croydon 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 |
$98,333±$21kHighest about the NH average |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Croydon 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 |
$317,300±$33k 21% below NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$991±$336Lowest 34% below NH |
$1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH |
| Bethlehem 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 |
$3,806Lowest 43% below NH |
$5,418Highest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Bethlehem 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% |
6.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
86.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest 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 |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Croydon School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.