Compare towns
Meredith vs Conway vs Hampton 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%).
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
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 | Conway | Hampton | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
10,141 |
10,101 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
55±4.1 27% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
| Meredith and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Conway and Meredith 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Conway and Hampton 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 |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
$73,218±$12k 26% below NH |
| Hampton 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±$48k 19% above NH |
$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$4,484 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Hampton 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.2% NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 23% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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 | #76 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Conway School District | — | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Kennett High School | — | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.7Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.