Compare towns
Meredith vs North Hampton vs Stratham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
North Hampton has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% 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 | North Hampton | Stratham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
4,543Lowest |
7,754Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Stratham and Meredith 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 |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Stratham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| North Hampton and Stratham 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 |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Meredith 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
25 min 8% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | 11.1 |
| 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.