Compare towns
Dalton vs Orange vs Gilsum
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Orange has the most people working from home (20.8%).
Gilsum has the oldest population (median age 44.8).
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 | Dalton | Orange | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 916Highest |
320Lowest |
716 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±12.9 about the NH average |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
44.8±8.1Highest 3% above NH |
| Gilsum and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Orange and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dalton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36k 18% below NH |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH |
| Orange and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH |
$302,600±$35kHighest 25% below NH |
$241,500±$32k 40% below NH |
| Orange and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825Lowest 40% below NH |
— | $1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
| Gilsum and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
$5,132 23% below NH |
$5,579Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below NH |
28 minHighest 5% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Orange and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.