Compare towns
Unity vs Laconia vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Unity | Laconia | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
17,085Highest |
4,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
41.6±8.5Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Charlestown and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
22.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
12.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Charlestown and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
$73,218±$12k 26% below NH |
$47,338±$23kLowest 52% below NH |
| Unity and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
$340,300±$16kHighest 15% below NH |
$228,000±$62kLowest 43% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
$1,099±$85Lowest 26% below NH |
| Unity and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 19% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$5,143 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
65%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Charlestown and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6% NH: 7.2% |
14.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Laconia and Unity 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 | — | #105 of 120 in NH | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | Laconia School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Laconia High School | None in town |
| 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.