Compare towns
Berwick vs Laconia vs Meredith vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Berwick | Laconia | Meredith | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,998 |
17,085Highest |
6,758 |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$340,300±$16k about the U.S. average |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Laconia and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$4,484 44% above U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #105 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Laconia School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | — | Laconia High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.