Compare towns
Laconia vs Unity vs Rochester
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 the shortest commute (17 min average).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Unity | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085 |
1,375Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
43±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Rochester 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% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
27.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
| Rochester 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±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
$80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
| Unity and Rochester 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 |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
$279,100±$10k 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Unity and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
$5,334 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Rochester 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% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Laconia and Rochester 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 | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Laconia School District | Unity School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 13.2Highest |
| 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.