Compare towns
Meredith vs Durham 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 oldest population (median age 55.5).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Laconia has the most kids (18.4% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
15,080 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Meredith 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
| Durham and Meredith 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 |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
| Durham and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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 NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
19 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Oyster River High School | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.3Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.