What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).

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	Derry
People
Population	7,830Lowest	34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH	40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Derry and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1%	15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH	$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH
	Gilford and Derry 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	$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH
	Gilford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH	$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH
	Derry 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	$8,103Highest 22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2%	51.6%±9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Gilford and Derry 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	70.2%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 minLowest 18% below NH	31 minHighest 16% above NH
Work from home	16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8%	16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Gilford and Derry 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	#60 of 120 in NH
School district	Gilford School District	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town	Gilford High School	Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	13.9Highest
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.