Compare towns
Meredith vs Epping vs Exeter vs Center Harbor
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).
Epping has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Epping | Exeter | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
7,430 |
16,151Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Center Harbor 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor 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% NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Epping 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 12% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
| Exeter and Center Harbor 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 |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
| Meredith and Center Harbor 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 |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
— |
| Exeter and Epping 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Epping School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Epping High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 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.