Compare towns
Gilford vs Bennington 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
Gilford has the highest household income ($117k).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Gilford | Bennington | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,830 |
1,588Lowest |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
| Gilford and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest 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+ | 45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Laconia and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
| Bennington and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,868 27% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest 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 | 6.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford and Bennington 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 | #45 of 120 in NH | — | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | None in town | 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.