Compare towns
Gilford vs Hampton Beach vs Ogunquit vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Ogunquit | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,830Highest |
2,605 |
1,379Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9 24% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4 55% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Ogunquit 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 44% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
| 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±$56kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$552,300±$42k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$747Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
— | — |
| Hampton Beach and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,868 56% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilford and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Hampton Beach 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 |
| School district | Gilford School District | — | — | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.