Meredith

Belknap County•Lakes Region•Population: 6,662

Overview

Meredith occupies a prominent stretch of Lake Winnipesaukee shoreline in Belknap County, making it one of the most recognizable towns in New Hampshire's Lakes Region. The town's harbor and public docks have long served boaters, and its compact downtown sits just steps from the water.

Meredith's Main Street mixes boutique shopping, art galleries, and lake-view restaurants with year-round community events, while the Meredith Bay waterfront and boardwalk anchor much of the town's tourism economy. Nearby, the Belknap Range and area trail networks provide hiking and mountain biking beyond the lake itself.

The town's population is a blend of year-round residents, retirees, and a large seasonal community of second-home owners drawn by the lake. Waterfront property commands a significant premium over inland Lakes Region towns, and the local economy leans heavily on tourism, hospitality, and recreation-related businesses.

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

•Lake access
•Scenic views
•Boutique shopping
•Outdoor recreation

✗ Cons

•Seasonal crowds
•High property values
•Limited services

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Meredith.

2025 Local Tax Rate

$10.62

per $1,000 assessed value

2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate

$8.15

Equalization ratio: 77%

Municipal

$3.44

Local School

$4.95

State Education

$1.20

County

$1.03

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

Year	Total Rate	Effective Rate	Municipal	Local School	State Ed.	County
2025	$10.62	$8.15	$3.44	$4.95	$1.20	$1.03

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home Value	Estimated Annual Tax	Estimated Monthly
$250,000	$2,655	$221
$350,000	$3,717	$310
$500,000	$5,310	$443
$750,000	$7,965	$664
$1,000,000	$10,620	$885

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $10.62 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Open Full Calculator →Compare With Other Towns →View Statewide Rankings →

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High

77.6°F

Winter Avg High

33.1°F

Annual Snowfall

57 in

Annual Rainfall

46.8 in

Sunny Days/Year

260

Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 • Updated 7/4/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston

108 mi

~129 min drive

Manchester

58 mi

~72 min drive

Portsmouth

61 mi

~104 min drive

Concord

41 mi

~51 min drive

Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap • Updated 7/3/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score

51/100

Trail Miles

44.1

Boat Launches

State Parks

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:24 miles

XC Ski Trails:9 miles

Campgrounds:1

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income

$65,372

Per Capita Income

$48,622

Median Family Income

$100,919

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value

$402,400

Median Rent

$966/mo

Homeownership Rate

77.14%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate

4.07%

In Labor Force

3,171

Work From Home

0.44%

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

23.36%

Total with Degree

1,225

🚗Commute

Work From Home

0.44%

👥Demographics

Median Age

55.2 years

Avg Household Size

2.05 people

Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) • Census Data Year: 2022 • Updated 7/3/2026

Condo Communities in Meredith