Compare towns
Meredith vs Mapleton vs North Hampton vs Laconia
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Mapleton | North Hampton | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
1,884Lowest |
4,543 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
| Meredith and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$340,300±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,224±$107 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$4,484 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Meredith 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | North Hampton School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.