Compare towns
Windham vs Keene 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Laconia has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Windham | Keene | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Lowest |
22,939Highest |
17,085 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Laconia and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 15% above NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Keene 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Keene School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Keene High School | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.