What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).

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	Conway
People
Population	7,830Lowest	10,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.2±3.9Lowest 11% above NH	55±4.1Highest 27% above NH
	Conway 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%	12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	5%±3Highest NH: 6%
	Conway 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±$11kHighest 18% above NH	$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH	$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$747Highest 23% below NH	$1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH
	Gilford and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,868Highest 27% below NH	$4,087Lowest 39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2%	47.3%±13.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Gilford and Conway 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%	8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	71.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983 4 yrs newer than NH	1983 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 18% below NH	21 minLowest 23% below NH
Work from home	16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8%	13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Gilford and Conway 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	#76 of 120 in NH
School district	Gilford School District	Conway School District
High school in town	Gilford High School	Kennett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	11.7Highest
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.