Compare towns
Gilford vs Hampton 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 most affordable homes ($457k median).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% 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 | Ogunquit | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,830 |
10,101Highest |
1,379Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest 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. |
51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest 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% |
26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 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. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$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. |
$545,300±$63k 64% 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. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
— | — |
| Hampton 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. |
$6,872 120% 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% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilford and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% 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% |
74.5%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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #45 of 120 in NH | #31 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.