Compare towns
Meredith 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 people working from home (23.7%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Exeter | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
16,151Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 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% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Meredith 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest 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%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% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below 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 |
$456,600±$21kLowest 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below 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% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Meredith 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.