Compare towns
Unity vs Laconia vs Claremont
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 most homeowners (94.5%).
Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Claremont has the most affordable homes ($205k median).
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 | Claremont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
17,085Highest |
13,078 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
42.6±3.5Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Claremont 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% |
20.8%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Laconia and Claremont 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 |
$59,096±$8kLowest 40% 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 |
$204,600±$17kLowest 49% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
$1,146±$83Lowest 23% 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 | $5,394 19% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$5,774Highest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
63.6%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Claremont 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% |
13.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2% NH: 72.8% |
57.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1957Lowest 22 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.6%±2.9Lowest 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 | #103 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | Laconia School District | Claremont School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Laconia High School | Stevens High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.