What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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	Epping	Laconia
People
Population	7,430Lowest	17,085Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH	45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH
	Laconia and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2%	18.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Epping and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Laconia and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Highest NH: 40.6%	27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6%	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Epping and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,220±$7kHighest 5% above NH	$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH	$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH	$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH
	Epping and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,936Highest 4% above NH	$4,484Lowest 33% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2%	54.5%±10.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Epping and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above NH	17 minLowest 36% below NH
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8%	13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Epping 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	#77 of 120 in NH	#105 of 120 in NH
School district	Epping School District	Laconia School District
High school in town	Epping High School	Laconia High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	10.0Highest
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.