Compare towns
Laconia vs Unity vs Washington
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 affordable homes ($276k median).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085Highest |
1,375 |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
55±4.7 27% above NH |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Washington 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% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
29%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.2% NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Washington 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±$16k 12% below NH |
$89,453±$12kHighest 10% below NH |
| Washington and Unity 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 |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
$358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH |
| Washington 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 |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,106±$160Lowest 26% below NH |
| Unity 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 |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
$4,321Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Unity 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% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Washington 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 | Unity School District | Washington School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.