Compare towns
Meredith vs Ogunquit vs Center Harbor vs New Hampton
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%).
Center Harbor has the shortest commute (25 min average).
New Hampton has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Ogunquit | Center Harbor | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
1,379 |
955Lowest |
2,509 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
60.4±4.8 55% above U.S. |
51.7±2.7Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Center Harbor 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% |
11.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Hampton and Meredith 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% |
39.5%±13.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Center Harbor 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% |
47.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$95,250±$35k 18% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$463,800±$74k 39% above U.S. |
$383,700±$37kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
— | — | $749±$433Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Meredith and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,667 50% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.3%±21.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 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 |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | — | — | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | — | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.