Welcome to the LoveShack: Which town is the love capital of the Lakes Region?

The Lakes Region is well known for its best qualities: lakes, mountains, dining, opportunities for recreation and relaxation. Its small towns and villages offer distinct charms and, this Valentine’s Day, The Laconia Daily Sun set out to determine which one of them is the love capital of the region.  

Most of Belknap County’s small towns publish a comprehensive annual report each year. In those annual reports — some had already published their 2025 edition, while the 2024 edition was the most current in others — towns list the various resident marriages which occurred throughout the year. No data was available from Belmont.

The Sun compiled the number of reported resident marriages in each town and, keeping the relative population based on 2024 census estimates in mind, created a “Love Score” for each municipality. 

And the findings may shock you.  

It’s Center Harbor, right on Lake Winnipesaukee, which came away with the highest love score in this Valentine’s Day study. They scored a 6.69, significantly higher than any other Lakes Region town.  

There were seven resident marriages reported in the 2024 annual report published by Center Harbor, and their estimated 2024 population was 1,047, making that town the love capital of the Lakes Region. In Center Harbor, August and October were the most popular months of matrimony. 

Across Alton, Center Harbor, Gilford, Gilmanton, Meredith, New Hampton, Sanbornton and Tilton, August was the most popular month for newlyweds to say their vows. Of 118 reported marriages included in those town reports, more than 20% of them occurred at the end of the summer, perhaps somewhere with a view.

Gilmanton is the Lakes Region’s second city in terms of its relative Love Score: they clocked in at 4.91, a head and neck below Center Harbor, but not too shabby overall. In Gilmanton, the town report for 2024 notes 20 reported marriages, and five of them occurred in September. October trailed closely behind with four marriages there, and March was the only month without reported nuptials.

Alton, home to the famed ice runway, came out with the third highest Love Score among Lakes Region towns. They came in at 4.46, with 27 reported marriages in 2024.

The people of Alton prefer to get married in the fall, with seven in August, four in September and another four in October, right before it's too cold to do anything at all. 

Tilton, which some say is known for its culinary offerings, earned a 4.13 Love Score, the fourth-highest among municipalities surveyed for this story. They recorded 17 resident marriages in 2024, according to their annual report. Tilton residents enjoyed being married in August, though three couples tied the knot in December.

In New Hampton, the annual report for 2024 recorded eight resident marriages — August and October were most popular there, with two recorded marriages each. Overall, that town earned a Love Score of 3.30.  

Gilford earned the sixth-highest Love Score at 2.66, with 21 marriages recorded in their 2024 annual report. In that corner of Lake Winnipesaukee, residents prefer to be married in August or September, though one brave couple got hitched in November. 

Sanbornton, with its rolling hills, historic churches and winding country roads, rolled into Valentine’s Day with the seventh-highest Love Score at 1.96. It’s comparatively low, but there’s always room to grow.

Six marriages were recorded in the Sanbornton annual report for 2024, and September played host to half of them. In July there were two, and one couple was married in February.  

And bringing up the rear was Meredith, where, according to their 2025 annual report, there were 12 marriages. Based on the proprietary Love Score Matrix, Meredith earned a 1.76, and marriages there were overrepresented in May.