Compare towns
Meredith vs Keene 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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Keene | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
22,939Highest |
17,085 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Keene 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kHighest 12% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Meredith and Keene 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
| Keene 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 |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
17 min 36% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Keene School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Keene High School | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.3Highest |
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.