What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somersworth has the youngest population (median age 38.4).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Somersworth	Laconia
People
Population	12,111Lowest	17,085Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH	45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH
Kids under 18	19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2%	18.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Somersworth and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%	22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2Highest NH: 6%	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Somersworth and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,504±$13kHighest 25% below NH	$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH
	Somersworth and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH	$340,300±$16kHighest 15% below NH
	Laconia and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average	$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,805Highest about the NH average	$4,484Lowest 33% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2%	54.5%±10.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Somersworth and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH	1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 3% below NH	17 minLowest 36% below NH
Work from home	11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Laconia and Somersworth 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	#117 of 120 in NH	#105 of 120 in NH
School district	Somersworth School District	Laconia School District
High school in town	Somersworth High School	Laconia High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.