Compare towns

Sanbornton vs Belmont 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 highest household income ($114k).
Belmont has the most affordable homes ($316k median).
Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

MeasureSanborntonBelmontLaconia
People
Population
3,053Lowest
7,392
17,085Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
NH: +4.6%
-0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.9±5.4Lowest
3% below NH
47.2±3.5Highest
9% above NH
45.3±3.9
5% above NH
Belmont 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%
18.4%±3.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
18.4%±2.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
21.5%±4.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
22.4%±4.1
NH: 20.1%
22.8%±2.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
Laconia and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
19.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
27.2%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
3%±1.8
NH: 6%
3.1%±1.1Highest
NH: 6%
Laconia and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,750±$41kHighest
15% above NH
$69,063±$21kLowest
30% below NH
$73,218±$12k
26% below NH
Sanbornton and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$452,300±$30kHighest
12% above NH
$316,300±$31kLowest
21% below NH
$340,300±$16k
15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,289±$198Highest
14% below NH
$996±$129Lowest
33% below NH
$1,224±$107
18% below NH
Sanbornton and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,731Highest
14% below NH
$5,585
16% below NH
$4,484Lowest
33% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.3%±23.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
46.8%±10.9
NH: 48.2%
54.5%±10.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
Laconia and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
10.3%
NH: 7.2%
12.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82.1%
NH: 72.8%
64.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above NH
25 min
6% below NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
Work from home
15.8%±6.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
9.6%±3.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
13.5%±3.8
NH: 16.8%
Sanbornton and Laconia 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 #42 of 120 in NH #92 of 120 in NH #105 of 120 in NH
School district Winnisquam Regional School District Shaker Regional School District Laconia School District
High school in town None in town Belmont High School Laconia High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.0Highest
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.