Compare towns
Meredith vs White River Junction vs Hanover vs Kingston
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 homeowners (75.8%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | White River Junction | Hanover | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
3,364Lowest |
11,685Highest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Hanover 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 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 |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Hanover High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.