What stands out worked out from the figures below

Laconia has the oldest population (median age 45.3).

Durham has the highest household income ($124k).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	17,085Highest	15,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8% NH: +4.6%	+5.8% NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH	$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH	$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH	$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH
	Durham 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	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±10.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%
	Durham and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	19 minHighest 27% below NH
Work from home	13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Laconia School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Laconia High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.