Compare towns
Meredith vs Alton vs Laconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Laconia has the most kids (18.4% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Alton | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
5,994Lowest |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
| Meredith and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Laconia and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Alton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
| Meredith and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
— | $1,224±$107Highest 18% below NH |
| Laconia and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Highest 25% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,484 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Prospect Mountain High School | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.