Compare towns
Meredith vs Jackson vs Kingston 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%).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Wolfeboro has the most kids (13.7% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Kingston | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
897Lowest |
6,275 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Lowest 28% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
55.5±5.7Lowest 28% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
| Jackson and Wolfeboro 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% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Lowest 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% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Kingston and Jackson 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 |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Jackson and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Jackson and Kingston 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 |
$6,001 10% below NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | #78 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Jackson School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
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.