What stands out worked out from the figures below

Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).

Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).

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	Berwick
People
Population	17,085Highest	1,998Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3.9Highest 16% above U.S.	42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Laconia and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Berwick 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 U.S.: 17.2%	16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Laconia and Berwick 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 U.S.: 35.7%	35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Laconia and Berwick 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 9% below U.S.	$81,406±$39kHighest about the U.S. average
	Berwick and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,300±$16kHighest about the U.S. average	$323,300±$36kLowest about the U.S. average
	Laconia and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S.	$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S.
	Laconia and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,484Highest 44% above U.S.	$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Laconia and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.7%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Berwick 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	#105 of 120 in NH	#101 of 133 in ME
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 Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.