Compare towns
Gilford vs Strafford vs Meredith vs Belmont
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%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Belmont has the most affordable homes ($316k 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 | Strafford | Meredith | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,830Highest |
4,306Lowest |
6,758 |
7,392 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
47.2±3.5 9% 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%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Belmont 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Belmont 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 |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH |
| 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 13% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$316,300±$31kLowest 21% 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±$747 23% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$996±$129Lowest 33% below NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$5,585 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.8%±10.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
25 min 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.6%±3.6Lowest 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #92 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | Strafford School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Belmont High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.