What stands out worked out from the figures below

Goshen has the most kids (26.8% under 18).

Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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	Goshen	Laconia
People
Population	1,042Lowest	17,085Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	54.1±16.1Highest 25% above NH	45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH
	Goshen and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.8%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2%	18.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Goshen and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.5%±8Highest NH: 20.1%	22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Goshen and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	27.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%	3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,417±$26kLowest 29% below NH	$73,218±$12kHighest 26% below NH
	Laconia and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$255,600±$53kLowest 36% below NH	$340,300±$16kHighest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,938±$416Highest 30% above NH	$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,760Highest 29% below NH	$4,484Lowest 33% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.2%±74.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Laconia and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH	1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 13% below NH	17 minLowest 36% below NH
Work from home	6.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Laconia and Goshen 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	—	#105 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Laconia School District
High school in town	—	Laconia High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.