Compare towns
Meredith vs Lyme vs Windham 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 most affordable homes ($480k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Windham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
1,710Lowest |
16,038Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Windham 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±$15k 35% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Windham and Lyme 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 |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Windham 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Lyme School District | Windham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Windham High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.