Compare towns
Meredith vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Laconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Laconia has the most renters (35.8% rent).
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 | Braintree | Castleton | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Braintree 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$340,300±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 61% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,484 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Braintree 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.