What stands out worked out from the figures below

Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).

Laconia has the most affordable homes ($340k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Eliot	Laconia
People
Population	7,146Lowest	17,085Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S.	45.3±3.9Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Eliot and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Laconia and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.8%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Eliot and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Laconia and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S.	$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S.	$340,300±$16kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S.	$1,224±$107Lowest 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,549Highest 46% above U.S.	$4,484Lowest 44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54.5%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Eliot and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 15% below U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Eliot and Laconia 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	#19 of 133 in ME	#105 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	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.