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.

MeasureSanborntonCornishLaconia
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.