Compare towns
Laconia vs Hampton 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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Hampton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085Highest |
10,101 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Meredith and Hampton 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% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton 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±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Hampton 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Laconia School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.