Compare towns
Gilford vs Mapleton vs Meredith vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Mapleton | Meredith | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,830Highest |
1,884Lowest |
6,758 |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9 24% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Gilford 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$747 19% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.