Compare towns
Meredith vs Hanover 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Wolfeboro has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
11,685Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
14.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Hanover High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.