Compare towns
Meredith vs Wilder vs Laconia 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 most people working from home (23.7%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Laconia has the most kids (18.4% under 18).
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 | Wilder | Laconia | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
3,087Lowest |
17,085Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9Lowest 16% 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%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Laconia and Wolfeboro 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% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7Lowest 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% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Laconia 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. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$340,300±$16k about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Laconia 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. |
$5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
$4,484Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
17 min 36% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | — | #105 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Laconia School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Laconia High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.