What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peterborough has the most kids (16.3% 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.

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

Measure	Meredith	Peterborough
People
Population	6,758Highest	6,408Lowest
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	52.1±1.9Lowest 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%	16.3%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Peterborough and Meredith 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%	30.6%±5.2Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	62.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	2%±1.1Lowest 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±$19kLowest 12% below NH	$98,401±$8kHighest about the NH average
	Peterborough and Meredith 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	$404,500±$31kLowest 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	$8,655Highest 30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2%	29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	23 minLowest 16% below NH
Work from home	23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8%	15.8%±4.5Lowest 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	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

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.