Compare towns
Meredith vs Exeter vs Gilford
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%).
Gilford has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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 | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
| Meredith and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
| Gilford and Exeter 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±$21k 13% above NH |
$456,500±$56kLowest 13% above NH |
| Meredith and Exeter 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 |
$1,150±$747 23% below NH |
| Exeter and Gilford 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Lowest 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 | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Exeter High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.