Compare towns
Meredith vs Peru vs Windham
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 oldest population (median age 55.5).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Peru | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
434Lowest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Peru 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Meredith and Peru 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 8% above U.S. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$400,000±$105k 20% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S. |
— |
| Peru and Meredith 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. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Windham 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% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Windham 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 | — | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.