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 Moderate-density area
- $84,719
- Median income Above-median income area
- $482,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 46.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 03253 (Meredith, NH) rose +7.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 340.2 in 2023 to 364.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average New Hampshire ZIP), while per-capita income is $57,980. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 7.8% and unemployment is 3.8%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $482,700 (19% above the average New Hampshire ZIP), while 75.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,149.
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. The page also surfaces 8 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Belknap County, so 03253 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
41 establishments
- Construction
Construction
39 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
29 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
27 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
26 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, 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
Who lives in ZIP 03253?
55.7
Median Age
51.4%
Male
48.6%
Female
5.4%
Foreign-Born
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 ZIP avg
$57,980
Per Capita Income
7.8%
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Unemployment Rate
26.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 03253 ranks among New Hampshire ZIPs
Meredith, NH household income vs. every New Hampshire ZIP code
Median household income among 236 reporting New Hampshire ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$84,719 32nd percentile higher than 32% of 236 New Hampshire ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more New Hampshire 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
5,005housing units
5,005
Total Housing Units
3,009
Occupied Units
1,996
Vacant Units
2.17
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$482,700
Median Home Value
+19% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 03246
Laconia (03246)
15,963 residents
- 03249
Gilford (03249)
7,113 residents
- 03253 6,219
Meredith (03253)
6,219 residents
- 03254 4,049
Moultonborough (03254)
4,049 residents
- 03269 2,966
Sanbornton (03269)
2,966 residents
- 03256 2,169
New Hampton (03256)
2,169 residents
- 03217 2,076
Ashland (03217)
2,076 residents
- 03245 2,027
Holderness (03245)
2,027 residents
- 03226 1,117
Center Harbor (03226)
1,117 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 03253 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 03253 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 03249
Gilford (03249)
$116,635 median income
- 03245
Holderness (03245)
$107,863 median income
- 03226
Center Harbor (03226)
$107,500 median income
- 03269
Sanbornton (03269)
$107,083 median income
- 03254
Moultonborough (03254)
$106,440 median income
- 03256
New Hampton (03256)
$87,917 median income
- 03253
Meredith (03253)
$84,719 median income
- 03246
Laconia (03246)
$73,241 median income
- 03217
Ashland (03217)
$54,607 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 03253, both outside NH so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (6,219 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Belknap County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 03253's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 03253 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Meredith, NH ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.