Compare towns
Meredith vs Hancock vs Bethlehem
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%).
Hancock has the most homeowners (85.6%).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
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 | Hancock | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
1,791Lowest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
| Meredith and Hancock 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% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Hancock 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% |
30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hancock 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% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hancock 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±$19k 12% below NH |
$95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Hancock 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 19% above NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Meredith and Hancock 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 |
$1,208±$650Highest 19% below NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
| Hancock and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,884Highest 3% above NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Bethlehem 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Meredith 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 | — | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.