Compare towns
Gilmanton vs Alton vs Strafford
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%).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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.
| Measure | Gilmanton | Alton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,026Lowest |
5,994Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.4Lowest 4% above NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Strafford 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% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
$113,715±$19kLowest 15% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton 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±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Alton and Strafford 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 |
— | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.