Compare towns
Meredith vs Sutton vs Upton 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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Sutton | Upton | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$340,300±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Laconia and Sutton 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,484Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Upton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Upton 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 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
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.