What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ascutney has the most homeowners (100%).

Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ascutney	Laconia
People
Population	381Lowest	17,085Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	64.4±7.3Highest 66% above U.S.	45.3±3.9Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	10.2%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Laconia and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	44.9%±15Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.8%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Laconia and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,269±$46kLowest 34% below U.S.	$73,218±$12kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Laconia and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,800±$91kLowest 34% below U.S.	$340,300±$16kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,224±$107 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,429Lowest 10% above U.S.	$4,484Highest 44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	—	54.5%±10.2 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	100%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 40% below U.S.	17 minHighest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ascutney and Laconia 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	—	#105 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Laconia School District
High school in town	—	Laconia High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.