Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Plainfield 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 most expensive homes ($452k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Sanbornton | Plainfield | Belmont | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,053 |
2,522Lowest |
7,392 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Belmont 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%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% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Laconia 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH |
$73,218±$12k 26% below NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$316,300±$31kLowest 21% below NH |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198 14% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$996±$129Lowest 33% below NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,731 14% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above 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% |
31.8%±23.1 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%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 |
1977 2 yrs older 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 |
22 min 18% below NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #92 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Plainfield School District | Shaker Regional School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.