Compare towns
Alton vs Meredith vs Gilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Gilford has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Alton | Meredith | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Lowest |
6,758 |
7,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
48.2±3.9Lowest 11% above NH |
| Meredith and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
| Gilford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
| Meredith and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,150±$747Highest 23% below NH |
| Gilford and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,006Highest 25% below NH |
$4,868 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Gilford 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.