Compare towns
Meredith vs Kingston vs Epping 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Kingston | Epping | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
6,275Lowest |
7,430Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above 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% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Epping 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% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Epping 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 12% below NH |
$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Kingston and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Epping 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 |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping 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% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Epping School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sanborn Regional High School | Epping High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.