Compare towns
Gilmanton vs New Durham vs Alton
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 kids (17.5% under 18).
New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | New Durham | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,026 |
2,748Lowest |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.4Lowest 4% above NH |
46.5±7.5 7% above NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Alton 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%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilmanton and New Durham 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% |
23.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and New Durham 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% |
34.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Gilmanton and New Durham 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 |
$100,194±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Gilmanton and Alton 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 |
$339,400±$27kLowest 16% below NH |
$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
| Alton 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 25% below NH |
$1,417±$116Highest 5% below NH |
— |
| New Durham 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 |
$5,774 13% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
25%±42.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilmanton and Alton 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% |
5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above NH |
35 minHighest 30% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Alton 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 | — | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| 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.