Compare towns
Gilford vs Strafford vs Weare vs Epsom
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).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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 | Weare | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,830 |
4,306Lowest |
9,170Highest |
4,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH |
47.1±3.4 9% above NH |
| Gilford and Epsom 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Epsom 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% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Epsom 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 |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
| Gilford and Strafford 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 |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,212±$437 19% below NH |
| Strafford and Weare 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 |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$6,272Highest 6% below NH |
$6,210 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epsom 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | Strafford School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | None in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.