Compare towns
Whiting vs Meredith vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Whiting | Meredith | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532 |
6,758Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,125±$537Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Athens 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.