Compare towns
Gilford vs Meredith vs Strafford 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Meredith | Strafford | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,830 |
6,758 |
4,306Lowest |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
45.3±3.9Lowest 5% 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Laconia 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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 |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
| Meredith and Gilford 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 |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,868 27% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Strafford School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1 |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.