Compare towns
Laconia vs Middlesex vs Rochester
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 the shortest commute (17 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Middlesex | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085 |
1,943Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Laconia and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Laconia and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Rochester 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 9% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,300±$16k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,224±$107Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 120 in NH | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Laconia School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.