Compare towns
Laconia vs Ogunquit 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Ogunquit | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085 |
1,379Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Laconia and Rochester 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%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% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,300±$16k about the U.S. average |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,224±$107Lowest 13% below U.S. |
— | $1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484 44% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest 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 | — | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | — | 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.