Compare towns
Gilmanton vs Alton vs Gilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Gilmanton | Alton | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,026Lowest |
5,994 |
7,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.4Lowest 4% above NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
| Alton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Gilmanton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,088±$9kHighest 18% above NH |
$113,715±$19kLowest 15% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Gilmanton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
| Gilford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
— | $1,150±$747Highest 23% below NH |
| Gilford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,235Highest 6% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,868 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford and Alton 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 | #25 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.