Compare towns
Gilford vs Exeter 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 the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Gilford | Exeter | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,830 |
16,151Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Gilford and Strafford 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%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Strafford 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Strafford 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 |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above 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±$56k 13% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Gilford 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Exeter and Strafford 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.