What stands out worked out from the figures below

Laconia has the most affordable homes ($340k median).

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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	Hanover
People
Population	17,085Highest	11,685Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH	28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%	14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Laconia and Hanover 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%	19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Laconia and Hanover 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%	88.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH	$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH	$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH	$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH
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%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hanover 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%	5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	73.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH	1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	20 minHighest 27% below NH
Work from home	13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 120 in NH	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Laconia School District	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Laconia High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	10.7Highest
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.