What it's like to live in Laconia
Laconia is a small city in New Hampshire with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Laconia deals with a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold, harsh winters, heavy snowfall, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Heavy snowfall — 62" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Laconia compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Laconia
Based on Laconia's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,448
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $48,960 a year
- 51% of Laconia renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$68,060
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $34,030
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 13% below US
$1,224/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,224 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $340,300. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $340,300 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 26% below US
3.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.2%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 44% below US
184 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 2448/100k · Laconia Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 35% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 17 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 15°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 24% below US
27% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 27%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park (45 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Laconia's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($1,224/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
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