What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belmont has the most homeowners (82.1%).

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	Belmont	Laconia
People
Population	7,392Lowest	17,085Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.2±3.5Highest 9% above NH	45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH
	Belmont and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.7 NH: 18.2%	18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	22.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Laconia and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	27.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
	Laconia and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH	$73,218±$12kHighest 26% below NH
	Laconia and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$316,300±$31kLowest 21% below NH	$340,300±$16kHighest 15% below NH
	Laconia and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$996±$129Lowest 33% below NH	$1,224±$107Highest 18% below NH
	Laconia and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,585Highest 16% below NH	$4,484Lowest 33% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±10.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Laconia and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below NH	17 minLowest 36% below NH
Work from home	9.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Laconia and Belmont 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	#92 of 120 in NH	#105 of 120 in NH
School district	Shaker Regional School District	Laconia School District
High school in town	Belmont High School	Laconia High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	10.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.