Compare towns
Meredith vs Ossipee vs Center Harbor
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%).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Center Harbor has the highest household income ($104k).
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 | Ossipee | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
4,521 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Center Harbor 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Meredith 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% |
26.3%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor 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% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Ossipee 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 |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
| Meredith and Center Harbor 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 |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
— |
| Ossipee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Highest 25% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,667 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Meredith 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% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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 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.