Compare towns
Meredith vs Kingston vs Sanbornton vs Gilford
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%).
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Sanbornton | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
6,275 |
3,053Lowest |
7,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Sanbornton 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% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Kingston 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±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
| Gilford and Sanbornton 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±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$452,300±$30kLowest 12% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
| Kingston and Meredith 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 |
$1,393±$156Highest 7% below NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
$1,150±$747 23% below NH |
| Kingston and Sanbornton 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 |
$5,731 14% below NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford 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 NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Gilford 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— | 11.5 |
| 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.