What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

Peterborough has the most renters (43.3% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Meredith	Peterborough
People
Population	6,758Highest	2,539Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.5±3.7 28% above NH	55.5±9.2 28% above NH
Kids under 18	12.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2%	10.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Meredith and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.2%±5Lowest NH: 20.1%	35.1%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Peterborough 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	57.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Meredith and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,019±$19kHighest 12% below NH	$85,833±$15kLowest 13% below NH
	Meredith 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	$379,300±$57kLowest 6% below NH
	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	$1,515±$290Highest about the NH average
	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	$7,422Highest 11% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2%	36.9%±20.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Meredith and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	56.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1954Lowest 25 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	25 minLowest 7% below NH
Work from home	23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8%	16.1%±6.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Meredith and Peterborough 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	—
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

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.