Compare towns
Laconia vs Sunapee vs Pembroke
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 oldest population (median age 56.7).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085Highest |
3,416Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Laconia 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% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Pembroke 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 |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Sunapee and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Sunapee and Pembroke 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 |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% 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 |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.6% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Laconia School District | Sunapee School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.9 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.