Compare towns
Laconia vs Sunapee vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Sunapee | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085Highest |
3,416Lowest |
8,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
42.7±2Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.2% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,218±$12k 26% below NH |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
| Sunapee and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
| Sunapee and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,224±$107 18% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH |
| Sunapee and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484 33% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,886Highest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Franklin 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% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Laconia and Sunapee 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Laconia School District | Sunapee School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.9 |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.