Compare towns
Meredith vs Wayne 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).
Wayne has the most homeowners (89.9%).
Laconia has the most kids (18.4% under 18).
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 | Wayne | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
1,101Lowest |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Laconia and Wayne 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% |
29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Wayne 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% |
48.8%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% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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. |
$93,194±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Meredith 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. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$340,300±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% 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 | $5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,484 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Meredith 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 | RSU 38 | 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.