What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilsum has the youngest population (median age 44.8).

Woolwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).

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	Woolwich
People
Population	716Lowest	3,158Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.8±8.1Lowest 15% above U.S.	55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S.
	Woolwich and Gilsum 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%	15%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Woolwich and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Gilsum and Woolwich 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	$102,175±$26kHighest 27% above U.S.
	Woolwich 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.	$254,500±$59kHighest 24% below U.S.
	Woolwich and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$894 11% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,579Highest 79% above U.S.	$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.5%±55.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	64.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gilsum and Woolwich 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%	13.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	11.9%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1%	11.9%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#92 of 133 in ME
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	RSU 01 - LKRSU
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.