Compare towns
Gilmanton vs Derry vs Loudon vs Barnstead
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 homeowners (99.2%).
Derry has the most people working from home (16%).
Loudon has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Gilmanton | Derry | Loudon | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,026Lowest |
34,116Highest |
5,692 |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.4 4% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Loudon and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Loudon and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
29.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Barnstead 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 |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$106,966±$16kLowest 8% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Gilmanton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$42k 10% below NH |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,321±$465 11% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Derry and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,235 6% below NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$5,821Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilmanton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
30 minLowest 14% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Derry and Barnstead 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #99 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.