Compare towns
Meredith vs Laconia vs Center Harbor
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%).
Laconia has the most kids (18.4% under 18).
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
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 | Laconia | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
17,085Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Meredith 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% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest 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%±5 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor 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% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Laconia and Meredith 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 |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
| Center Harbor 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 |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
| Meredith and Center Harbor 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 |
$1,224±$107Highest 18% below NH |
— |
| Laconia and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Highest 25% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$4,667 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest 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% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Laconia School District | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Laconia High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
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.