Compare towns
Gilford vs Belmont vs Strafford
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).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,830Highest |
7,392 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
47.2±3.5 9% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
| Gilford and Belmont 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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 |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford 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±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
$316,300±$31kLowest 21% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Gilford and Strafford 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 |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
46.8%±10.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Gilford 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | Shaker Regional School District | Strafford 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.