Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Franklin vs Northwood 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).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Franklin | Northwood | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,053Lowest |
8,799 |
4,688 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
42.7±2 about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Laconia and Franklin 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% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 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%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
27.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Northwood and Franklin 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 |
$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$73,218±$12k 26% below NH |
| Northwood 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±$30kHighest 12% above NH |
$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198Highest 14% below NH |
$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,201±$372 19% 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 |
$4,886 27% below NH |
$5,806Highest 13% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5 NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Franklin 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood and Sanbornton 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Franklin School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Franklin High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 16.2Highest |
11.5 |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.