Compare towns
Gilmanton vs Strafford vs Belmont
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%).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Belmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Strafford | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,026Lowest |
4,306 |
7,392Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.4Lowest 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
47.2±3.5Highest 9% above NH |
| Belmont and Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Belmont and Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Belmont and Strafford 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% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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 |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$316,300±$31kLowest 21% below NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$421 25% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$996±$129Lowest 33% below NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$5,585Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.8%±10.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
25 minLowest 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Belmont 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #92 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | Strafford School District | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Belmont High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.