Compare towns
Meredith vs Enfield vs Alstead
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Enfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Enfield | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
4,475 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.6% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Enfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Meredith and Alstead 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% |
30.7%±7.6 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Enfield 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% |
43% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Alstead 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 |
$95,474±$19kHighest 4% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Enfield 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 |
$390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Meredith and Enfield 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 |
$1,181±$563Highest 21% below NH |
— |
| Enfield and Meredith 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 |
$6,203Highest 7% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | #5 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| 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 |
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.