Compare towns
Meredith vs Plaistow vs Kingston
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%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k 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 | Plaistow | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
7,861Highest |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Kingston 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Kingston and Plaistow 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 |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| Plaistow and Kingston 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±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| Kingston and Meredith 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 |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Plaistow and Kingston 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Meredith 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% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.4 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.