Compare towns
Chester vs Gilford vs Laconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
Gilford has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Laconia has the most renters (35.8% rent).
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 | Chester | Gilford | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
7,830 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
| Gilford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Chester and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Chester and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
| Chester and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,224±$107Highest 18% below NH |
| Laconia and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$4,868 27% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Gilford School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gilford High School | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.