Compare towns
Meredith vs Orange vs Peterborough
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 the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Orange has the most homeowners (97.5%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Orange | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
320Lowest |
6,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | +2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
52.1±1.9 20% above NH |
| Meredith and Peterborough 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% |
20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Orange and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Peterborough 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% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Orange 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 |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
| Orange and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$302,600±$35kLowest 25% below NH |
$404,500±$31k about the NH average |
| Meredith and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
— | $1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
| Peterborough and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,132 23% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 5% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Orange 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 | — | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.