Compare towns
Laconia vs Derry vs Gilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.
| Measure | Laconia | Derry | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085 |
34,116Highest |
7,830Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
| Gilford and Laconia 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% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Gilford 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia and Gilford 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% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
| Gilford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
| Gilford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,224±$107 18% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$4,868 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Laconia 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford 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 | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Laconia School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | Pinkerton Academy | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
13.9Highest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.