What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).

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	Derby	Laconia
People
Population	4,537Lowest	17,085Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S.	45.3±3.9Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Laconia and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.8%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Laconia and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,250±$8kHighest about the U.S. average	$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S.
	Derby and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S.	$340,300±$16kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S.
	Laconia and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S.	$4,484Highest 44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±18.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Laconia and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Laconia and Derby 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	#52 of 70 in VT	#105 of 120 in NH
School district	Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District	Laconia School District
High school in town	None in town	Laconia High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.