Compare towns
Danbury vs Effingham vs Gilsum vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danbury has the oldest population (median age 47.4).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Gilsum has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Grafton has the most people working from home (19.9%).
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 | Danbury | Effingham | Gilsum | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451 |
1,912Highest |
716Lowest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.4±5.8Highest 9% above NH |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
| Danbury and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Danbury and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
20.3% NH: 40.6% |
18.7% NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Grafton and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,685±$11kLowest 28% below NH |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
$80,417±$7k 19% below NH |
$81,563±$22kHighest 18% below NH |
| Grafton and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,700±$35kLowest 40% below NH |
$322,700±$30kHighest 20% below NH |
$241,500±$32k 40% below NH |
$267,300±$23k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$390 14% below NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
$1,243±$163 17% below NH |
| Gilsum and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,760Lowest 44% below NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
$5,579Highest 16% below NH |
$5,239 21% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±36.3 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NH: 7.2% |
9% NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Grafton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Monadnock Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.