Compare towns
Meredith vs Wolfeboro vs Laconia vs New Hampton
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%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Laconia has the most kids (18.4% under 18).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Laconia | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
6,571 |
17,085Highest |
2,509Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
51.7±2.7 19% above NH |
| Wolfeboro 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 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| New Hampton 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 |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$95,250±$35kHighest 4% below NH |
| New Hampton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
$1,224±$107Highest 18% below NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
| 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 25% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$4,973 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6 NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.6% NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Laconia School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Laconia High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
11.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.