Compare towns
Laconia vs Wolfeboro vs Belmont
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%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Belmont has the most affordable homes ($316k 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 | Wolfeboro | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,085Highest |
6,571Lowest |
7,392 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
47.2±3.5 9% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.2% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Laconia and Belmont 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 26% below NH |
$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH |
$69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Laconia 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$316,300±$31kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,224±$107Highest 18% below NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
$996±$129Lowest 33% below NH |
| Laconia and Wolfeboro 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 |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$5,585Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.8%±10.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Belmont 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% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest 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 |
24 min 11% below NH |
25 minHighest 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #92 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Laconia School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Belmont High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.1 |
12.0Highest |
| 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.