Compare towns
Unity vs Laconia vs Jefferson vs Washington
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 affordable homes ($276k median).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($359k 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 | Jefferson | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375 |
17,085Highest |
1,013Lowest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH |
58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
55±4.7 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Laconia and Washington 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%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
29%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
27.2% NH: 40.6% |
28.4% NH: 40.6% |
32%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Washington 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±$16k 12% below NH |
$73,218±$12k 26% below NH |
$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
$89,453±$12kHighest 10% below NH |
| Washington and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
$296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
$358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH |
| Washington and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
$1,106±$160 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 |
$4,484 33% below NH |
$4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,321 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Unity 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
35 min 29% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson and Washington 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 | — | — |
| School district | Unity School District | Laconia School District | — | Washington 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 | 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.