Compare towns
Laconia vs Williston vs Franklin
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085Highest |
10,144 |
8,799Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Williston and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Laconia and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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 9% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$71,648±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,300±$16k about the U.S. average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$262,200±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,224±$107 13% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,110±$68Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,886 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Laconia School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | None in town | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.