Compare towns
Windham 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k 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 | Windham | Meredith | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
6,758 |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
| Meredith and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Windham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Lowest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1 |
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.