Compare towns
Meredith vs Plainfield vs Windham 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 oldest population (median age 55.5).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Plainfield | Windham | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
2,522Lowest |
16,038 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Windham 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 |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Windham 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Windham 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | Windham School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Windham High School | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 12.8Highest |
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.