Compare towns
Meredith vs Townsend 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
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Townsend | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
9,100Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$463,800±$74k 39% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Center Harbor 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. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
— |
| Townsend and Meredith 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,667Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 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 |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.