What stands out worked out from the figures below

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

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	Keene	Laconia
People
Population	22,939Highest	17,085Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH	45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH
Kids under 18	14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	Laconia and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Laconia and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,445±$8kHighest 21% below NH	$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH
	Keene and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH	$340,300±$16kHighest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH	$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH
	Keene and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,812Highest about the NH average	$4,484Lowest 33% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Laconia and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH	1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minHighest 36% below NH	17 minLowest 36% below NH
Work from home	15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8%	13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Keene 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	#81 of 120 in NH	#105 of 120 in NH
School district	Keene School District	Laconia School District
High school in town	Keene High School	Laconia High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	10.0Lowest
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.