Compare towns
Meredith vs Reading 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
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | Reading | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
699Lowest |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Reading 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$340,300±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Meredith and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Laconia and Meredith 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,484Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
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.