Compare towns
Meredith vs Williston vs Dorset 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
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Williston | Dorset | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
10,144Highest |
2,092Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Williston 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. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Wolfeboro 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. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Williston and Dorset 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. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 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 |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 History | 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.