Compare towns

Wolfeboro vs Stoneham 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k 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.

MeasureWolfeboroStonehamMeredith
People
Population
6,571Lowest
23,355Highest
6,758
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
42.2±2.2Lowest
8% above U.S.
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%
20.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Stoneham 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±$22k
17% above U.S.
$113,964±$10kHighest
41% above U.S.
$87,019±$19kLowest
8% above U.S.
Stoneham and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$546,500±$60k
64% above U.S.
$671,900±$26kHighest
102% above U.S.
$480,100±$48kLowest
44% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% below U.S.
$2,035±$142Highest
44% above U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,531Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,523Highest
109% above U.S.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Meredith and Stoneham 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%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
22.9%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Stoneham 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 #46 of 120 in NH #117 of 282 in MA #62 of 120 in NH
School district Governor Wentworth Regional School District Stoneham Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town Kingswood Regional High School Stoneham High Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
10.7Lowest
11.1Highest
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.