Compare towns
Meredith vs Durham vs Sanbornton
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 oldest population (median age 55.5).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Sanbornton has the most kids (18.1% under 18).
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 | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
15,080Highest |
3,053Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sanbornton and Meredith 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| Durham and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$452,300±$30kLowest 12% above NH |
| Durham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
| Durham and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,731 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Durham 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 | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.