Compare towns
Peterborough vs Meredith vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peterborough has the most renters (43.3% rent).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Bethlehem has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
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 | Peterborough | Meredith | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,539 |
6,758Highest |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±9.2Highest 28% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Peterborough and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,833±$15k 13% below NH |
$87,019±$19kHighest 12% below NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Meredith and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,300±$57k 6% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Meredith and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,515±$290Highest about the NH average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
| Peterborough and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,422Highest 11% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.9%±20.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 25 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #59 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.