Compare towns
Meredith vs Lee vs Sanbornton
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%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Sanbornton has the most affordable homes ($452k 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 | Lee | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
4,576 |
3,053Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Lee 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$452,300±$30kLowest 12% above NH |
| Lee 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 |
— | $1,289±$198Highest 14% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,731 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Lee 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.