Compare towns
Bartlett vs Laconia vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Laconia has the most kids (18.4% under 18).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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.
| Measure | Bartlett | Laconia | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,281Lowest |
17,085Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.4±4.7Highest 33% above NH |
45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Bartlett and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.1%±9.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bartlett and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Laconia and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,754±$9kLowest 40% below NH |
$73,218±$12k 26% below NH |
$87,019±$19kHighest 12% below NH |
| Meredith and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,400±$78k 8% below NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
| Meredith and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,676±$97Highest 12% above NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$4,484 33% below NH |
$5,006Highest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.5%±37.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bartlett and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Bartlett 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bartlett School District | Laconia School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Laconia High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.