Compare towns
Meredith vs Methuen vs Wolfeboro
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 the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 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 | Methuen | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
53,475Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,061Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Methuen | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Methuen High | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.