Compare towns
Meredith vs Sunapee vs Laconia vs Gilford
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 most people working from home (23.7%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Gilford has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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 | Sunapee | Laconia | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
3,416Lowest |
17,085Highest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
| Sunapee 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 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford 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% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Sunapee 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee 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 |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
| Gilford and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
| Meredith and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
$1,150±$747 23% below NH |
| Sunapee and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Highest 25% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,484 33% below NH |
$4,868 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Laconia 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% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Gilford 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sunapee School District | Laconia School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Laconia High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
11.5 |
| 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.