What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilmanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Ashby has the most people working from home (17.8%).

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	Gilmanton	Ashby
People
Population	4,026Highest	3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±4.4Lowest 16% above U.S.	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
	Ashby and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Gilmanton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ashby and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gilmanton and Ashby 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 45% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S.
	Gilmanton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,700±$42kLowest 9% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Ashby and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$421Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,200±$484Highest 15% below U.S.
	Ashby and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,235Highest 100% above U.S.	$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gilmanton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	99.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 min 25% above U.S.	33 min 25% above U.S.
Work from home	8.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashby and Gilmanton 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	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Gilmanton School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.