What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gilford	Townsend
People
Population	7,830Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±3.9Highest 24% above U.S.	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gilford and Townsend 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 U.S.: 35.7%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,635±$11kLowest 44% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend 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±$56kHighest 37% above U.S.	$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Gilford and Townsend 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.	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.
	Townsend and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,868Lowest 56% above U.S.	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gilford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gilford and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Gilford School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Gilford High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.