What stands out worked out from the figures below

Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Standish has the highest household income ($105k).

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	Standish
People
Population	17,085Highest	10,662Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±3.9Highest 16% above U.S.	40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Laconia and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Laconia and Standish 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%	15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S.	$104,593±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,300±$16kHighest about the U.S. average	$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average
	Laconia and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S.	$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S.
	Laconia and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,484Highest 44% above U.S.	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Standish and Laconia 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%	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Standish and Laconia 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	#18 of 133 in ME
School district	Laconia School District	RSU 06/MSAD 06
High school in town	Laconia High School	Bonny Eagle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0Lowest	12.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.