Compare towns
Meredith vs Lyme vs Kingston
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%).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
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 | Lyme | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
1,710Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Kingston 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Kingston and Lyme 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Lyme and Kingston 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Lyme School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.