Compare towns
Meredith vs Ipswich vs Kingston
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k 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 | Ipswich | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
13,930Highest |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.2±3.5Lowest 21% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ipswich and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ipswich and Kingston 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 8% above U.S. |
$138,750±$16kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$745,400±$40kHighest 124% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,598±$90Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| Ipswich and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$7,960Highest 155% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±12.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ipswich and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Ipswich 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Ipswich | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Ipswich High | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.0Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.