Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Amherst vs Laconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Sanbornton | Amherst | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,053Lowest |
11,861 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
| Amherst and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Amherst and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Amherst and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198 14% below NH |
$1,462±$256Highest about the NH average |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
| Amherst and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,731 14% below NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.