What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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	Keene
People
Population	17,085Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH	37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Laconia and Keene 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%	19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Laconia and Keene 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%	44.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH	$78,445±$8kHighest 21% below NH
	Keene and Laconia 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	$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH	$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH
	Keene 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	$6,812Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Laconia and Keene 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%	10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH	1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	17 minHighest 36% below NH
Work from home	13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Keene 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	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	Laconia School District	Keene School District
High school in town	Laconia High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	12.3Highest
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.