What stands out worked out from the figures below

Laconia has the most affordable homes ($340k median).

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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	Rye
People
Population	17,085Highest	5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%	18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Laconia and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Laconia and Rye 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	$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH	$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,484Lowest 33% below NH	$7,519Highest 13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2%	44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Laconia and Rye 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%	6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	85.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	29 minHighest 8% above NH
Work from home	13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#105 of 120 in NH	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Laconia School District	Rye School District
High school in town	Laconia High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0	—
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.