What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilsum has the most people working from home (11.9%).

Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% 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.

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

Measure	Gilsum	Parsonsfield
People
Population	716Lowest	1,715Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.8±8.1Highest 15% above U.S.	44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Gilsum and Parsonsfield 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%	25%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gilsum and Parsonsfield 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%	21.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gilsum and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,417±$7kHighest about the U.S. average	$72,045±$18kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Gilsum and Parsonsfield 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.	$272,100±$21kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Parsonsfield and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S.	$1,185±$312Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Gilsum and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,579Highest 79% above U.S.	$2,350Lowest 25% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.5%±55.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	78.2%±35Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Parsonsfield and Gilsum 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%	12%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	48 minHighest 83% above U.S.
Work from home	11.9%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gilsum and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	—
High school 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.