Compare towns
Sharon vs Meredith vs Cavendish vs Barnet
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%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
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 | Sharon | Meredith | Cavendish | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
6,758Highest |
1,242Lowest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cavendish and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,489 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Cavendish 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 | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 18 photos → | 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.