Compare towns

Sanbornton vs Derby vs Laconia

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sanbornton has the highest household income ($114k).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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.

MeasureSanborntonDerbyLaconia
People
Population
3,053Lowest
4,537
17,085Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±5.4Lowest
8% above U.S.
51.6±2.1Highest
33% above U.S.
45.3±3.9
16% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.1%±5.5
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.8%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Derby 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Laconia and Derby 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
41% above U.S.
$80,250±$8k
about the U.S. average
$73,218±$12kLowest
9% below U.S.
Sanbornton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$452,300±$30kHighest
36% above U.S.
$225,000±$10kLowest
32% below U.S.
$340,300±$16k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,289±$198Highest
9% below U.S.
$1,096±$118Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,224±$107
13% below U.S.
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
84% above U.S.
$3,449Lowest
11% above U.S.
$4,484
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.3%±23.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.8%±18.5
U.S.: 51.1%
54.5%±10.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Laconia and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
Work from home
15.8%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.5%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #52 of 70 in VT #105 of 120 in NH
School district Winnisquam Regional School District Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High 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

U.S. 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.