What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilford has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gilford	Alton
People
Population	7,830Highest	5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.2±3.9Lowest 11% above NH	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH
	Alton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%	13.4%±4Lowest 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+	21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Gilford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH	$113,715±$19kLowest 15% 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	$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH	$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH
	Gilford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$747 23% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,868Highest 27% below NH	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2%	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Gilford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below NH	33 minHighest 24% above NH
Work from home	16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8%	13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Gilford and Alton 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	#45 of 120 in NH	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	Gilford School District	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Gilford High School	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.