What stands out worked out from the figures below

Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).

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	Augusta	Laconia
People
Population	19,077Highest	17,085Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S.	45.3±3.9Highest 16% above U.S.
	Laconia and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Augusta and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.8%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Laconia and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Augusta and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S.	$73,218±$12kHighest 9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S.	$340,300±$16kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S.	$1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S.	$4,484Highest 44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Laconia and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	12.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	64.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 29% below U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Augusta 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	#119 of 133 in ME	#105 of 120 in NH
School district	Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy	Laconia School District
High school in town	Cony	Laconia High School
Students per teacherat that high school	17.9Highest	10.0Lowest
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.