What stands out worked out from the figures below

Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).

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	Franklin
People
Population	17,085Highest	8,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH	42.7±2Lowest about the NH average
	Laconia and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%	17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Laconia and Franklin 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%	21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Laconia and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.2%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
	Franklin and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,218±$12kHighest 26% below NH	$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH
	Laconia and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,300±$16kHighest 15% below NH	$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,224±$107Highest 18% below NH	$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH
	Laconia and Franklin 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	$4,886Highest 27% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2%	38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Laconia and Franklin 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%	7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2% NH: 72.8%	64.2% NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	32 minHighest 18% above NH
Work from home	13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8%	8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Laconia and Franklin 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	#112 of 120 in NH
School district	Laconia School District	Franklin School District
High school in town	Laconia High School	Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	16.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.