Compare towns
Laconia vs Derry vs Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Derry has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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.
| Measure | Laconia | Derry | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085 |
34,116Highest |
8,175Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% 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% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Derry 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 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% |
37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry 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. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
| Derry and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,300±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,224±$107Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
| Derry and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484 44% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Derry 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Laconia School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
13.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.