What stands out worked out from the figures below

Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).

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	Barnstead
People
Population	17,085Highest	4,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	Laconia and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Laconia and Barnstead 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%	30.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH	$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH
	Barnstead and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH	$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH
	Barnstead and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,484Lowest 33% below NH	$6,003Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Laconia and Barnstead 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%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	31 minHighest 16% above NH
Work from home	13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Laconia and Barnstead 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	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Laconia School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	Laconia High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0	—
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.