Compare towns
Meredith vs Readfield vs Wayne vs Wolfeboro
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%).
Readfield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Readfield | Wayne | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Wayne 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% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Readfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Readfield 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 38 | RSU 38 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.