Compare towns
Meredith vs Lyme 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Laconia has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
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 | Lyme | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
1,710Lowest |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
| Meredith and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Laconia 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Lyme 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
| Lyme 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% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Meredith 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 | — | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Lyme School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | 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.