Compare towns
Meredith vs Middlesex vs Strafford
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 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 | Middlesex | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
1,943 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Strafford 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%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Strafford 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Strafford 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.