PlainZIP

Meredith, NH · standard

ZIP Code 03253

Belknap County, New Hampshire - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

6,219
62/sq mi
$84,719
Median income
$482,700
Median home value
46.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Meredith pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 32%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 14%
home value, US ZIPs
62
people per sq mi
76%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 03253 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 03253 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Meredith, Belknap County, New Hampshire, home to 6,219 residents across 100.8 square miles, a density of 62 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 03253 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $84,719 (17% below the New Hampshire average), while per-capita income is $57,980. 7.8% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 3.8%. The typical home here is valued at $482,700 (19% above the state average); renters pay a median of $1,149 monthly, and 75.5% of units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 46.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 55.7, and the average commute is 26 minutes. A geography-based comparison follows: 8 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 03253, plus 6 more within Belknap County, give a clearer read than the national average alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 03253

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Meredith, NH

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 03253.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 03253, Meredith, NH · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

6,219

Population

100.8

Area (sq mi)

62

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 03253?

55.7

Median Age

51.4%

Male

48.6%

Female

5.4%

Foreign-Born

White 96.6%
African American 0.3%
Asian 1.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 1.0%
Hispanic or Latino 0.6%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$84,719

Median Household Income

-17% vs state

$57,980

Per Capita Income

7.8%

Poverty Rate

3.8%

Unemployment Rate

26.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 03253 ranks nationally

Meredith, NH household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$84,719 Top 32% higher than 68% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 68.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 46.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

5,005

Total Housing Units

3,009

Occupied Units

1,996

Vacant Units

2.17

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 75.5%
Renter 24.5%

$482,700

Median Home Value

+19% vs state

$1,149

Median Rent

1975

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+7.1%

YoY Change (2024)

364

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+264%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 03253 have increased 7.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +264% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.5% 214
2021 +11.4% 238
2022 +33.9% 319
2023 +6.6% 340
2024 +7.1% 364

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 273 business establishments in ZIP 03253, employing approximately 2,737 people with a combined annual payroll of $140,333,000.

273

Businesses

2,737

Employees

$140.3M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 41 15.0%
Construction 39 14.3%
Accommodation and food services 29 10.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 27 9.9%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 26 9.5%
Other services (except public administration) 25 9.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 20 7.3%
Health care and social assistance 18 6.6%
Finance and insurance 15 5.5%
Manufacturing 7 2.6%
Wholesale trade 7 2.6%
Information 6 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 6 2.2%
Educational services 3 1.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 03253 vs 03246 →

ZIP 03253 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 03253 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 03253 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 03253 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
03246 Laconia, NH 15,963 4.2 mi
03226 Center Harbor, NH 1,117 5.1 mi
03256 New Hampton, NH 2,169 6.7 mi
03249 Gilford, NH 7,113 7.6 mi
03269 Sanbornton, NH 2,966 8.7 mi
03245 Holderness, NH 2,027 9.3 mi
03217 Ashland, NH 2,076 8.8 mi
03254 Moultonborough, NH 4,049 8.9 mi

More ZIP Codes in Belknap County

03246 standard
Laconia, NH
Pop: 15,963
03220 standard
Belmont, NH
Pop: 7,430
03249 standard
Gilford, NH
Pop: 7,113
03809 standard
Alton, NH
Pop: 3,716
03225 standard
Center Barnstead, NH
Pop: 3,660
03269 standard
Sanbornton, NH
Pop: 2,966

Related Areas

Belknap County Meredith, NH New Hampshire

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 03253 in? ▼
ZIP code 03253 (Meredith) is located in Belknap County, New Hampshire. Belknap County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/belknap-nh.
What is the population of ZIP code 03253? ▼
ZIP code 03253 in Meredith, NH has a population of 6,219 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 03253? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 03253 is $84,719, which is 11% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 03253? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 03253 is $482,700, which is 74% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 03253? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 03253 is White at 96.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 03253? ▼
ZIP code 03253 has 273 business establishments employing approximately 2,737 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 03253? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 03253 are: Retail trade (41), Construction (39), Accommodation and food services (29). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 03253? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 03253 increased by 7.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 264%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 03253? ▼
In ZIP code 03253, 68.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 46.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 03253? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 03253 is 26.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 03253? ▼
In ZIP code 03253, approximately 75.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 24.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 03253? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 03253 is 7.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.