Compare towns
Gilford vs Windsor 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).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
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 | Windsor | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,830Highest |
254Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
40.2±18.8Lowest 7% below 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% |
25.2%±14.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
15.7%±8Lowest 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% |
12.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±4.2 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Chester and Windsor 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 |
$103,750±$40kLowest 5% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester 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 |
$337,500±$40kLowest 16% below NH |
$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±$747 23% below NH |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,868 27% below NH |
$3,381Lowest 49% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windsor and Gilford 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% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.5% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15%±16.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford and Chester 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilford School District | — | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Gilford High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.