Compare towns
Meredith vs North Hampton vs Wolfeboro vs Sunapee
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 highest household income ($146k).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
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 | Wolfeboro | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
4,543 |
6,571 |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
50.5±3.3Lowest 17% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Wolfeboro 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%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee 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±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| North Hampton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| North Hampton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Sunapee 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
25 min 8% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.