Compare towns
Laconia vs Meredith vs Wolfeboro vs Pembroke
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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Wolfeboro | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,085Highest |
6,758 |
6,571Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Pembroke 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 |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Pembroke 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 |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,224±$107Highest 18% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Laconia and Pembroke 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 |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.6% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Laconia School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.1 |
11.1 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.