Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Cornish 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 most expensive homes ($452k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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.
| Measure | Sanbornton | Cornish | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,053 |
1,816Lowest |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
| Cornish and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Laconia 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% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Laconia and Sanbornton 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 |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Cornish 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 |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198Highest 14% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% 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 | $5,731 14% below NH |
$5,796Highest 13% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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 | — | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Cornish School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.


