Compare towns
Gilmanton vs Strafford vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,026Lowest |
4,306 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±4.4 16% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,088±$9kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$42kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$421Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,235Highest 100% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | Strafford School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.