What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gilsum	Calais
People
Population	716Lowest	1,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.8±8.1Highest 15% above U.S.	42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Gilsum and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Calais and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Calais and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,417±$7kLowest about the U.S. average	$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Calais and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S.	$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S.	$1,408±$392Lowest about the U.S. average
	Gilsum and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,579Lowest 79% above U.S.	$6,586Highest 111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gilsum and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	11.9%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Calais and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.