Compare towns
Meredith vs Wolfeboro vs North Hampton vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
North Hampton has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
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 | Wolfeboro | North Hampton | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
6,571 |
4,543Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
50.5±3.3Lowest 17% above NH |
55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Kingston 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 12% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | North Hampton School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.