Compare towns
Meredith vs Stow 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 oldest population (median age 55.5).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Stow | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
7,165 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%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% |
3.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stow 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 8% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$340,300±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,224±$107 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,484Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Laconia 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | #44 of 282 in MA | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Nashoba | 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.