Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Gilford vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | Dunbarton | Gilford | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
7,830Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Gilford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$116,635±$11kLowest 18% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 22% below NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Gilford School District | Plainfield School District |
| 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 |
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.