Compare towns
Gilford vs Deering vs Meredith vs Chester
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).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Deering | Meredith | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,830Highest |
1,938Lowest |
6,758 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% NH: +4.6% |
-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
48.8±5.7 13% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
47.2±3.8Lowest 9% above NH |
| Meredith and Deering 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% |
17.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 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% |
23.9%±1.2 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% NH: 40.6% |
31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Chester and Meredith 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 |
$101,250±$16k about the NH average |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% 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 |
$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Chester and Meredith 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 |
$1,306±$116Highest 12% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
— |
| Deering 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 |
$6,223 7% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | — | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.