What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stark has the most homeowners (92.5%).

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	Stark
People
Population	17,085Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Laconia and Stark 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%	27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Stark and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%
	Stark 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±$12kHighest 26% below NH	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
	Laconia and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,300±$16kHighest 15% below NH	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,224±$107 18% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,484Highest 33% below NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±10.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stark 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 NH: 7.2%	8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Stark 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	—
School district	Laconia School District	Stark 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.