Compare towns
Meredith vs Stoneham vs Center Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Stoneham | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
23,355Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Meredith 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 8% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Stoneham 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 44% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$463,800±$74kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,667Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | — |
| 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.