Compare towns
Meredith vs Peterborough 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%).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Peterborough | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
6,408 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
52.1±1.9Lowest 20% 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% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Peterborough 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% |
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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Rye 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±$8k about the NH average |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye 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±$48k 19% above NH |
$404,500±$31kLowest about the NH average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,395±$209 6% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Rye 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% |
5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Lowest 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Conval Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.0Highest |
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| 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.