Compare towns
Meredith vs Douglas vs Upton vs Wolfeboro
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%).
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 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 | Douglas | Upton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
9,207Highest |
8,189 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Upton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Douglas | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Douglas High School | Blackstone Valley | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.2Lowest |
11.2Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.