Compare towns
Meredith vs Hampton Falls vs Sunapee vs Wolfeboro
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%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 Falls | Sunapee | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
2,328Lowest |
3,416 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee 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% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Wolfeboro 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% |
25%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Hampton Falls 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 |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Sunapee 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Sunapee 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
32 min 21% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampton Falls School District | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.