Compare towns
Meredith vs Williston vs Wolfeboro vs Center Harbor
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%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
10,144Highest |
6,571 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and Wolfeboro 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Center Harbor and Wolfeboro 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1% 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%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest 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±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Williston and Center Harbor 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±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$463,800±$74kLowest 39% 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. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,667 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer 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. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | 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.