Compare towns
Gilford vs Weare vs Chester
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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Weare | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,830 |
9,170Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Gilford and Chester 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% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Chester 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% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Chester and Weare 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 18% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester 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±$56k 13% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Chester 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 23% below NH |
$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
— |
| Weare 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 |
$6,272 6% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | 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 |
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.