Compare towns
Chester vs Gilford vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Chester | Gilford | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
7,830Highest |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 21% above U.S. |
48.2±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Gilford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gilford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$116,635±$11k 44% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Chester and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$456,500±$56k 37% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Chester and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,150±$747Highest 19% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Gilford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$4,868 56% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gilford and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Chester School District | Gilford School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gilford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.