Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Waterbury 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).
Waterbury has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Waterbury | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571 |
5,405Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% 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% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest 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% |
54.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterbury 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. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Waterbury 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±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$447,200±$40kLowest 34% above 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. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% 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 | $4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,435Highest 106% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Waterbury 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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 Our Story | 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.