Compare towns
Gilford vs Chester vs Laconia vs Meredith
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 most kids (20.6% under 18).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
Laconia has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Chester | Laconia | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,830 |
5,300Lowest |
17,085Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Meredith and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Chester 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% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Chester and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Chester and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Chester and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$747 23% below NH |
— | $1,224±$107Highest 18% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Laconia and Gilford 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 |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Gilford 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | Chester School District | Laconia School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | None in town | Laconia High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.