What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Kingston has the most renters (25.6% 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	Kingston
People
Population	7,830Highest	6,275Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.2±3.9Lowest 11% above NH	55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH
	Kingston and Gilford 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%	13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Gilford and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Kingston 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Kingston and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH	$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH
	Gilford and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,500±$56kLowest 13% above NH	$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH
	Kingston 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	$1,393±$156Highest 7% below NH
	Kingston 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	$7,906Highest 19% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2%	46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Gilford and Kingston 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%	2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below NH	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8%	15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Gilford and Kingston 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	#78 of 120 in NH
School district	Gilford School District	Sanborn Regional School District
High school in town	Gilford High School	Sanborn Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	12.9Highest
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.