Compare towns
Meredith vs Plainfield vs Sanbornton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Sanbornton has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
1,314Lowest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
41.9±5.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Meredith 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 8% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$113,750±$41kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton 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 44% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$452,300±$30k 36% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Sanbornton 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. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,289±$198Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield 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. |
$4,806Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,731Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Meredith 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Winnisquam Regional 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 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.