Compare towns
Laconia vs Wilder vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Laconia has the most kids (18.4% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wilder | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085Highest |
3,087Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Laconia and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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 9% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,300±$16k about the U.S. average |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Laconia and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Laconia School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | — | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.