Compare towns
Meredith vs Wells vs Seabrook
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 most people working from home (23.7%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Wells | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
11,713Highest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Lowest 38% above U.S. |
54±1.9 39% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Seabrook 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% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Seabrook 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% |
31%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Wells and Meredith 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. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$443,500±$40kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Wells and Meredith 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. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,542±$174Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Seabrook and Wells 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,785Highest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Seabrook 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Seabrook School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.