Compare towns
Meredith vs Exeter vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
16,151Highest |
2,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Union 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 8% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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 44% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| 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 19% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.