Compare towns
Gilford vs Sunapee vs Williston
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 the most homeowners (93.1%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Sunapee | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,830 |
3,416Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9 24% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Gilford and Williston 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Sunapee 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 44% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Gilford and Williston 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. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$747Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Sunapee 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Gilford School District | Sunapee School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.