Compare towns
Gilmanton vs Loudon vs Barnstead vs New Durham
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%).
Loudon has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Loudon | Barnstead | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,026 |
5,692Highest |
4,994 |
2,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.4 4% above NH |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
46.5±7.5 7% above NH |
| Loudon and New Durham 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% |
16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead 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% |
22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New Durham and Loudon 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% |
29.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
34.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead 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±$9kHighest 18% above NH |
$106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$100,194±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| 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±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$339,400±$27kLowest 16% below NH |
| Gilmanton and Loudon 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 |
$1,321±$465 11% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,417±$116Highest 5% below NH |
| New Durham and Barnstead 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 |
$5,821 13% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$5,774Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
25%±42.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilmanton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
94% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above NH |
30 minLowest 14% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
35 minHighest 30% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead and New Durham 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 | #99 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Barnstead School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.