Compare towns
Meredith vs Unity vs Mapleton 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 people working from home (23.7%).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Unity | Mapleton | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
1,375Lowest |
1,884 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$340,300±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107 13% below U.S. |
| Unity and Laconia 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,484 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Meredith 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 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 |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | 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 | 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.