City Report · NH

Laconia

Pop. 17,085·15th most expensive in New Hampshire·Laconia rents are up 10.0% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,887/mo

Year-over-Year

+10.0%

Month-over-Month

-3.6%

vs US Median

-$45

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Laconia · $1,887

More expensive than 53% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

31% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,887/mo, rent takes about 31% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$75,000/yr

Local median income

$73,218/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Laconia's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$990

1 BR

$1,150

2 BR

$1,440

3 BR

$1,810

4 BR+

$2,160

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,440/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,887 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of New Hampshire

Rent in Laconia changed +10.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 14 New Hampshire cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($73,218) is $1,830 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,810); a 4-bedroom is $2,160.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Laconia. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$22,644/yr

At $1,887/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (10.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+10.0% YoY, -3.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Laconia, NH is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 27.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

17,085

Median income

$73,218

Median age

45.3

Renters

35.8%

Age distribution

18.4%

17.3%

24.2%

17.2%

22.8%

Under 1818.4%

18–3417.3%

35–5424.2%

55–6417.2%

65+22.8%

Gender

49.1%

50.9%

Male49.1%

Female50.9%

Race & ethnicity

90.6%

White90.6%

Hispanic3.5%

Asian1.5%

Other4.2%

Education (25+)

29.5%

36.7%

27.2%

No HS diploma6.6%

HS diploma29.5%

Some college36.7%

Bachelor's+27.2%

Housing tenure

64.2%

35.8%

Owner64.2%

Renter35.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Laconia, NH has changed in 5 years

Income

$63,711 → $73,218

up 14.9%

Population

16,786 → 17,085

up 1.8%

Renter share

39.7% → 35.8%

-3.9 pts

Bachelor's+

27.4% → 27.2%

-0.2 pts

Median age

43.1 → 45.3

+2.2 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $63,711 to $73,218 across the same window, up 14.9% versus 2021. Census counts show Laconia, NH adding about 299 residents over the five-year window, up 1.8% on net. The renter share has eased from 39.7% to 35.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

Discussions about Laconia

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View Laconia rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Laconia on your salary?

At $1,887/mo, how Laconia rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $97,314/yr · Rent = 23.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $69,092/yr · Rent = 32.8% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $79,588/yr · Rent = 28.5% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $142,253/yr · Rent = 15.9% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $181,764/yr · Rent = 12.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,694/yr · Rent = 35% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $58,411/yr · Rent = 38.8% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $71,997/yr · Rent = 31.5% income

stretched

By apartment size

Laconia rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Laconia. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Laconia

About renting in Laconia, NH

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Laconia is $1,887/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $990/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,440/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,150/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,810/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($73,218/yr), Laconia ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Laconia?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $75,000/year (about $36/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,887/mo in Laconia. The local median household income is $73,218/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Laconia?

Rent in Laconia has risen 10.0% over the past year.

How does Laconia rent compare to other cities in New Hampshire?

Laconia is one of the more affordable among New Hampshire cities for rent, ranking #15 of 18 tracked cities at $1,887/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Laconia changed +10.0%, against a typical +3.2% across the 14 New Hampshire cities Zillow tracks.