Compare towns
Meredith vs Ogunquit vs Auburn vs Gilford
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Auburn has the highest household income ($153k).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 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 | Ogunquit | Auburn | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
1,379Lowest |
6,119 |
7,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.2±3.9 24% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gilford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$116,635±$11k 44% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$456,500±$56kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,150±$747 19% below U.S. |
| Auburn and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$4,868 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilford 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Auburn 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 | — | #44 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Auburn School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.