What stands out worked out from the figures below

Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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	Laconia	Alton
People
Population	17,085Highest	5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Laconia and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alton and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH	$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH	$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,224±$107 18% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,484Highest 33% below NH	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2%	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Laconia and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974 5 yrs older than NH	1974 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	33 minHighest 24% above NH
Work from home	13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8%	13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Laconia and Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	Laconia School District	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Laconia High School	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	11.1Highest
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.