Compare towns
Meredith vs Lenox vs Center Harbor
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%).
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Lenox | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
5,079 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Lowest 43% above U.S. |
60.1±4.3 54% above U.S. |
60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lenox and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±13.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lenox and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lenox 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 8% above U.S. |
$106,080±$31kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Lenox and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$466,700±$43k 40% above U.S. |
$463,800±$74kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,091±$238Lowest 23% below U.S. |
— |
| Meredith and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,299Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,667Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Lenox 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Lenox | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Lenox Memorial High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
7.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.