Compare towns
Meredith vs Ripton vs Salisbury 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 the most people working from home (23.7%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k median).
Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Ripton | Salisbury | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
508Lowest |
1,200 |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
41.9±5.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sanbornton and Salisbury 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% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Ripton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21k 23% above U.S. |
$113,750±$41kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% 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. |
— | $1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,289±$198 9% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sanbornton 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,731Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 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 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.