Compare towns
Meredith vs Needham vs Center Harbor
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 renters (24.2% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Needham | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
32,459Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Center Harbor 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$463,800±$74kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,667Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 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. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.