Compare towns
Gilford vs Plainfield vs Meredith
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Plainfield | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,830Highest |
2,522Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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±$11k 18% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Plainfield 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 13% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above 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±$747 23% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | Plainfield School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| 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.