Compare towns
Meredith vs Ogunquit vs Manchester 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Gilford has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Manchester | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
1,379Lowest |
115,643Highest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest 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. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gilford and Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% 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% |
6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester 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±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
$116,635±$11kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Gilford and Ogunquit 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. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$456,500±$56k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,564±$37Highest 11% above U.S. |
$1,150±$747 19% below U.S. |
| Manchester 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. |
$5,922Highest 90% 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% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below 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% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #115 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Manchester Memorial High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.



