Compare towns
Gilford vs Meredith vs Alstead
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).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Meredith | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,830Highest |
6,758 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9Lowest 11% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Alstead and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Alstead 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% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Meredith 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 |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Gilford and Meredith 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| 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±$747Highest 23% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
— |
| Gilford and Meredith 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 |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$5,322Highest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead 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 NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Gilford School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.