Compare towns
Meredith vs Kingston vs Sanbornton 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%).
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Sanbornton has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Kingston | Sanbornton | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
6,275 |
3,053Lowest |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Sanbornton 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% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Kingston and Laconia 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 |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$113,750±$41kHighest 15% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Kingston 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 |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
| Kingston 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 |
$1,393±$156Highest 7% below NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
| Kingston and Sanbornton 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 |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$5,731 14% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
85.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Sanbornton 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.9Highest |
— | 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.