Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Dover vs Meredith vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Meredith has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (98.4%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Dover | Meredith | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
1,466 |
6,758Highest |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3Lowest 38% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$81,406±$31k about the U.S. average |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55kLowest about the U.S. average |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$428,000±$61k 29% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 45% above U.S. |
$4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,926Highest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Meredith and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Dover 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 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.