Compare towns
Gilford vs Belmont vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Belmont has the most affordable homes ($316k median).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
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 | Gilford | Belmont | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,830Highest |
7,392 |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
47.2±3.5Lowest 9% above NH |
47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
| Gilford and Newton 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% |
18.4%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
22.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Belmont 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% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Newton and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
$69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
| Newton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$316,300±$31kLowest 21% below NH |
$459,500±$18kHighest 14% above NH |
| Newton and Gilford 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 |
$996±$129Lowest 33% below NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
| Newton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$5,585 16% below NH |
$8,124Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.8%±10.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newton 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 | #45 of 120 in NH | #92 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | Shaker Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | Belmont High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.0Highest |
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| 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.