What stands out worked out from the figures below

Conway has the oldest population (median age 55).

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	Conway	Laconia
People
Population	10,141Lowest	17,085Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55±4.1Highest 27% above NH	45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH
Kids under 18	12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1%	22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±3Highest NH: 6%	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Conway and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH	$73,218±$12kHighest 26% below NH
	Laconia and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH	$340,300±$16kHighest 15% below NH
	Laconia and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH	$1,224±$107Highest 18% below NH
	Laconia and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,087Lowest 39% below NH	$4,484Highest 33% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.3%±13.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Laconia and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.2%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	21 minHighest 23% below NH	17 minLowest 36% below NH
Work from home	13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Laconia and Conway 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	#76 of 120 in NH	#105 of 120 in NH
School district	Conway School District	Laconia School District
High school in town	Kennett High School	Laconia High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	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.