Compare towns
Hampstead vs Gilford vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most renters (17.9% rent).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Hampstead | Gilford | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
7,830Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Gilford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$456,500±$56kLowest 13% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,425±$88Highest 4% below NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Gilford School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gilford High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.