Compare towns
Gilford vs Chester vs Alton
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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
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.
| Measure | Gilford | Chester | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,830Highest |
5,300Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
47.2±3.8Lowest 9% 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% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Chester 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% |
17.4%±4Lowest 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% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chester and Gilford 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 |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$113,715±$19kLowest 15% above NH |
| Chester 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 |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
| Chester 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 |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,868 27% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | Chester School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | None in town | 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 | 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.