Compare towns
Meredith vs Worcester vs Putney
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Worcester | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Highest |
831Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Putney and Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Meredith and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Worcester 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Worcester 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.