Compare towns
Laconia vs Durham vs Meredith
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 most kids (18.4% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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.
| Measure | Laconia | Durham | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085Highest |
15,080 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Durham and Meredith 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Durham and Meredith 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 |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% 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 |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Durham 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 | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Laconia School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | Oyster River High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
12.3Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.