Compare towns
Laconia vs Mapleton vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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.
| Measure | Laconia | Mapleton | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085Highest |
1,884 |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Washburn and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washburn and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,218±$12k 9% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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 about the U.S. average |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Laconia and Mapleton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Laconia School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.