Compare towns
Meredith vs Plainfield vs Albany
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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Albany has the most affordable homes ($248k 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 | Plainfield | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
2,522 |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
46.5±9.7 7% above NH |
| Meredith and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±4Highest NH: 6% |
| Albany and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$67,639±$19kLowest 32% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$248,300±$68kLowest 38% below NH |
| Meredith and Plainfield 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 |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,194±$112 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$2,554Lowest 62% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.2%±97.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Albany 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.2%±18.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | 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.