Compare towns
Gilmanton vs Pelham 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%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Pelham | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,026Lowest |
14,449Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.4Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Gilmanton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Barnstead 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead 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% NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Pelham 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±$42k 10% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,425±$88Highest 4% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Pelham 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
30 minLowest 10% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #25 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | Pelham School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.