Compare towns
Meredith vs Hampton vs Enfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Hampton has the most kids (14.6% under 18).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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 | Hampton | Enfield | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
10,101Highest |
4,475 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-2.6% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
58.3±5.4 35% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Enfield 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% |
14.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.7%±7.6 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% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton 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±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$390,800±$71kLowest about the NH average |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
| Hampton and Meredith 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 |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,181±$563 21% below NH |
— |
| Hampton and Enfield 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 |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$6,203 7% below NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #5 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.