Compare towns
Meredith vs Ogunquit vs Walpole vs Laconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Walpole | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
1,379Lowest |
3,690 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Walpole 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 8% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$340,300±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Laconia and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,484 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #27 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.