Compare towns
Stratton vs Meredith vs Hancock vs Panton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Stratton | Meredith | Hancock | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
6,758Highest |
435Lowest |
690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
33.8±11.6 13% below U.S. |
42.7±3.8 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hancock and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$86,667±$10k 7% above U.S. |
| Stratton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50k 20% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$187,900±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$438,000±$40k 32% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$939±$19Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,410±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
| Panton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 52% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$3,511Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$6,695Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Panton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Panton 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.