Compare towns
Meredith vs Ossipee vs Rye
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 affordable homes ($326k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Ossipee | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
4,521Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
| Meredith and Rye 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% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Rye 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% |
26.3%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Rye 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% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye 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±$48k 19% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Rye and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Meredith 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | 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.