Compare towns
Gilmanton vs Sandown 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 affordable homes ($364k median).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Sandown | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,026Lowest |
6,628Highest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.4 4% above NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Gilmanton 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sandown 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±$9k 18% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$113,715±$19kLowest 15% above NH |
| Sandown 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±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Sandown and Alton 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 |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
— |
| Sandown and Gilmanton 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 |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Gilmanton 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% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 23% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Alton 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | Timberlane 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.