Compare towns
Meredith vs Waterbury vs Williston vs Wolfeboro
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 housing (typical home built 1975).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
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 | Williston | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
5,405Lowest |
10,144Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Waterbury 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Williston 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±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Williston 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.