Compare towns
Peterborough vs Stoneham vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Meredith has the most homeowners (75.8%).
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 | Stoneham | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,408Lowest |
23,355Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±1.9 34% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$31kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$209 about the U.S. average |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Stoneham | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Conval Regional High School | Stoneham High | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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.