03246 ZIP Code — Laconia, NH
Belknap County, New Hampshire
ZIP code 03246 is located in Laconia, New Hampshire, within Belknap County. It covers approximately 19.87 square miles and serves a population of 16,943 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 603.
About ZIP code 03246
The housing stock consists of a mix of housing types. Most homes were built in the pre-1940, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $250,500. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 59%.
Median household income is $68,024. 41% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.
The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 18 minutes is near the national average.
Educational attainment is near the national average, with 27% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher.
16,943
population
19.87
sq mi land
Standard
ZIP type
Eastern (ET)
timezone
03246 ZIP code map
Cities in ZIP code 03246
Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 03246. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.
| City | Status |
|---|---|
| Laconia | Acceptable |
| Laconia | Preferred |
Nearby ZIP codes
03253 Meredith (3.6 mi)
03298 Tilton (4.4 mi)
03299 Tilton (4.4 mi)
03269 Sanbornton (6.4 mi)
03220 Belmont (7.1 mi)
03256 New Hampton (7.7 mi)
03226 Center Harbor (9.8 mi)
03276 Tilton (10.2 mi)
03237 Gilmanton (10.2 mi)
03254 Moultonborough (10.7 mi)
03853 Mirror Lake (10.7 mi)
03810 Alton Bay (11.2 mi)
Demographics
updated 05/2026
| Population | |
|---|---|
| Total population | 16,943 |
| Population density | 853 / sq mi |
| State FIPS | 33 |
| County FIPS | 001 |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Land area | 19.87 sq mi |
| Water area | 6.24 sq mi |
| Latitude | 43.5655 |
| Longitude | -71.4815 |
| Timezone | Eastern (ET) |
| Area code | 603 |
Total population by age
Gender
Race & ethnicity
Economics
updated 05/2026
Household income
| Income range | This ZIP | County avg | State avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 44.9% | 36.9% | 31.0% |
| $50k – $100k | 30.8% | 31.7% | 31.2% |
| $100k – $200k | 20.2% | 25.5% | 28.1% |
| Over $200k | 4.0% | 5.9% | 9.7% |
Demographics & statistics
16,943
Population
853
People per sq mi
43.8
Median age
$68,024
Median household income
$39,324
Per capita income
$250,500
Median home value
$1,163
Median monthly rent
58.9%
Home ownership
10.2%
Poverty rate
3.1%
Unemployment
7,227
Housing units
27.2%
Bachelor's or higher
Age distribution
Male
Female
361
Under 5
366
347
5–9
351
512
10–14
518
504
15–19
511
507
20–24
513
1,000
25–34
1,013
1,110
35–44
1,125
915
45–54
928
575
55–59
582
741
60–64
750
1,224
65–74
1,241
412
75–84
417
209
85+
211
← Male
Female →
Age summary
| Group | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 3,096 | 18.3% |
| 18 and over | 13,847 | 81.7% |
| 65 and over | 3,714 | 21.9% |
| Median age | 43.8 years | |
Race & ethnicity
White
90.1%
Hispanic or Latino
3.4%
Other race
2.5%
Two or more races
1.8%
Black or African American
1.1%
Asian
1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.1%
| Group | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| White | 15,799 | 90.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 599 | 3.4% |
| Other race | 433 | 2.5% |
| Two or more races | 313 | 1.8% |
| Black or African American | 198 | 1.1% |
| Asian | 187 | 1.1% |
| American Indian / Alaska Native | 13 | 0.1% |
Household income
| Income range | This ZIP | County avg | State avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 44.9% | 36.9% | 31.0% |
| $50k – $100k | 30.8% | 31.7% | 31.2% |
| $100k – $200k | 20.2% | 25.5% | 28.1% |
| Over $200k | 4.0% | 5.9% | 9.7% |
Under $10k
3.9%
$10k–$15k
4.6%
$15k–$25k
7.2%
$25k–$35k
10.9%
$35k–$50k
10.3%
$50k–$75k
17.9%
$75k–$100k
15.5%
$100k–$150k
17.0%
$150k–$200k
6.3%
$200k+
6.4%
| Range | % of households |
|---|---|
| Under $10k | 3.9% |
| $10k–$15k | 4.6% |
| $15k–$25k | 7.2% |
| $25k–$35k | 10.9% |
| $35k–$50k | 10.3% |
| $50k–$75k | 17.9% |
| $75k–$100k | 15.5% |
| $100k–$150k | 17.0% |
| $150k–$200k | 6.3% |
| $200k+ | 6.4% |
| Median income | $68,024 |
Housing
Home values
Under $50k
3.3%
$50k–$100k
3.2%
$100k–$150k
6.3%
$150k–$200k
21.1%
$200k–$300k
27.9%
$300k–$500k
27.7%
$500k–$1M
6.8%
$1M+
3.8%
Housing overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median home value | $250,500 |
| Median rent / month | $1,163 |
| Owner occupied | 58.9% |
| Renter occupied | 41.1% |
| Vacant | 30.8% |
| Single-family detached | 48.5% |
| Large apartment buildings | 5.6% |
| Mobile homes | 5.8% |
| Median rooms | 5.0 |
| Avg household size (owned) | 2.49 |
Year built
| Era | % |
|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 0.3% |
| 2010–2019 | 5.5% |
| 2000–2009 | 12.3% |
| 1990–1999 | 6.3% |
| 1980–1989 | 17.3% |
| 1970–1979 | 10.9% |
| 1960–1969 | 6.4% |
| 1950–1959 | 8.1% |
| 1940–1949 | 5.8% |
| 1939 or earlier | 27.1% |
Bedrooms
| Size | % of units |
|---|---|
| No bedroom (studio) | 4.2% |
| 1 bedroom | 11.9% |
| 2 bedrooms | 36.8% |
| 3 bedrooms | 32.7% |
| 4 bedrooms | 12.3% |
| 5+ bedrooms | 2.1% |
Vehicles per household
| Vehicles | % of households |
|---|---|
| No vehicle | 7.9% |
| 1 vehicle | 42.8% |
| 2 vehicles | 31.7% |
| 3 or more | 17.6% |
Heating fuel
| Fuel type | % |
|---|---|
| Utility gas | 20.6% |
| Electricity | 17.0% |
| Propane / LP gas | 14.1% |
| Fuel oil | 42.5% |
| Wood | 1.5% |
| No fuel used | 0.4% |
Households & families
| Household type | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Married-couple family | 2,809 | 40.2% |
| Cohabiting couple | 367 | 5.3% |
| Male householder, no spouse | 1,405 | 20.1% |
| Female householder, no spouse | 2,408 | 34.5% |
| Households with children under 18 | 1,594 | 22.8% |
| Households with seniors (65+) | 2,484 | 35.5% |
| Average household size | 2.35 | |
Marital status
| Status | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Never married | 34.4% | 28.3% |
| Married | 45.0% | 41.7% |
| Separated | 4.1% | 1.1% |
| Widowed | 4.2% | 11.8% |
| Divorced | 12.2% | 17.1% |
Education
Less than 9th grade
1.9%
Some HS, no diploma
6.9%
HS graduate
30.8%
Some college, no degree
19.4%
Associate's degree
13.8%
Bachelor's degree
18.3%
Graduate / professional
8.9%
| Metric | % |
|---|---|
| HS diploma or higher | 91.2% |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.2% |
School enrollment (ages 3–17)
| Type | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery / preschool | 188 | 6.3% |
| Kindergarten | 143 | 4.8% |
| Elementary school | 1,348 | 44.9% |
| High school | 844 | 28.1% |
| College / grad school | 477 | 15.9% |
Employment
Industry of employment
Education & healthcare
25.6%
Retail trade
12.2%
Manufacturing
11.0%
Arts, food & hospitality
10.8%
Professional & management
10.2%
Finance & real estate
8.7%
Construction
6.7%
Other services
4.8%
Transportation & utilities
4.1%
Public administration
3.5%
Information
1.1%
Agriculture & mining
0.7%
Wholesale trade
0.5%
Occupation
| Category | % |
|---|---|
| Management, business & arts | 35.9% |
| Service | 19.6% |
| Sales & office | 24.8% |
| Natural resources & construction | 5.8% |
| Production & transportation | 13.8% |
Employment type
| Type | % |
|---|---|
| Private sector | 80.4% |
| Government | 12.7% |
| Self-employed | 6.7% |
| Unpaid family workers | 0.2% |
Commute
| Method | % |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 71.4% |
| Carpool | 14.7% |
| Public transit | 0.3% |
| Walk | 5.0% |
| Work from home | 6.8% |
| Other means | 1.8% |
| Avg commute (minutes) | 17.8 |
Poverty
All people
10.2%
Under 18 years
15.9%
18 and over
8.9%
Married-couple families
2.3%
Female-led households
20.0%
Income support
| Source | % of households |
|---|---|
| Social Security | 40.8% |
| Retirement income | 26.6% |
| Supplemental Security | 7.3% |
| Cash public assistance | 3.4% |
| Food stamps / SNAP | 10.4% |
Health indicators
| Condition | % |
|---|---|
| Obesity | 34.7% |
| High blood pressure | 33.9% |
| High cholesterol | 33.5% |
| Diabetes | 10.0% |
| Heart disease | 7.1% |
| Stroke | 3.2% |
| Asthma | 11.0% |
| Arthritis | 28.0% |
| Kidney disease | 3.0% |
| Pulmonary disease | 7.8% |
| Cancer | 7.5% |
| Behavior / access | % |
|---|---|
| Smoking | 17.8% |
| Binge drinking | 17.2% |
| No physical activity | 24.1% |
| Less than 7 hrs sleep | 31.5% |
| Depression | 21.1% |
| Fair or poor health | 14.2% |
| Poor mental health | 14.7% |
| Poor physical health | 11.2% |
| No health insurance | 12.3% |
| Visited doctor (checkup) | 72.3% |
| Visited dentist | 63.0% |
| Cholesterol screening | 90.0% |
| Teeth loss | 14.5% |
Veterans & disability
| Veterans | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Civilian veterans | 1,521 | 11.0% |
| Disability | % |
|---|---|
| Any disability | 19.9% |
| Under 18 | 7.4% |
| 18–64 years | 17.0% |
| 65 and over | 39.9% |
Health insurance coverage
| Type | % |
|---|---|
| Private insurance | 64.6% |
| Public insurance | 43.3% |
| No insurance | 7.9% |
| Uninsured under 19 | 4.6% |
Language & origin
Language spoken at home (age 5+)
| Language | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| English only | 16,216 | 95.7% |
| Spanish | 186 | 1.1% |
| Other Indo-European | 16 | 0.1% |
| Asian & Pacific Islander | 63 | 0.4% |
| Other languages | 106 | 0.7% |
Place of birth & citizenship
| Origin | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Native born (US) | 16,359 | 96.6% |
| Born in same state | 16,204 | 95.6% |
| Born in different state | 9,202 | 54.3% |
| Foreign born | 155 | 0.9% |
| Naturalized citizen | 584 | 3.4% |
| Not a US citizen | 487 | 83.4% |
Ancestry
| Ancestry | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Italian | 3,767 | 22.2% |
| French | 2,635 | 15.6% |
| German | 2,121 | 12.5% |
| Arab | 806 | 4.8% |
| Polish | 153 | 0.9% |
| Ancestry | Count | % |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch | 113 | 0.7% |
| English | 82 | 0.5% |
| Norwegian | 29 | 0.2% |
| Irish | 9 | 0.1% |
Technology access
| Metric | % of households |
|---|---|
| Computer access | 41.3% |
| Internet access | 93.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.
Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 03246
What city is ZIP code 03246 in?
ZIP code 03246 is primarily assigned to Laconia, New Hampshire.
What county is ZIP code 03246 in?
ZIP code 03246 falls within Belknap County, New Hampshire.
Does ZIP code 03246 have a large retiree population?
41% of households in ZIP code 03246 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.
Does ZIP code 03246 have a large veteran population?
11% of civilians in ZIP code 03246 are veterans, above the national average of ~7%.
What is the population of ZIP code 03246?
ZIP code 03246 has an estimated population of 16,943 residents, with a density of 853 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in ZIP code 03246?
The median household income in ZIP code 03246 is $68,024, below the national median of ~$75,000.
What timezone is ZIP code 03246 in?
ZIP code 03246 observes the EST timezone.