Compare towns
Meredith vs Waterbury 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 oldest population (median age 55.5).
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Sanbornton has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Waterbury | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
5,405 |
3,053Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
41.9±5.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Sanbornton 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterbury 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. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
$113,750±$41kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Waterbury 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. |
$447,200±$40kLowest 34% above 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±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,289±$198Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
$5,731 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Waterbury 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.