Compare towns
Meredith vs Durham vs Norwich 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Norwich | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
15,080Highest |
3,640Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% 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%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 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% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Norwich 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. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.