Compare towns
Meredith vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Exeter | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
16,151 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
| Meredith and Exeter 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Laconia 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Exeter High School | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.