Compare towns
Meredith vs Rye vs Center Harbor
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Rye | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
5,611 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
55.1±3Lowest 27% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Meredith 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% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Rye 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 |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
| Rye and Center Harbor 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Rye 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Meredith 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Rye 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.