Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Fair Haven vs Meredith
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).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Fair Haven | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571 |
2,724Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven 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. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% 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. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% 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. |
$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.