Compare towns
Hampstead vs Newton vs Pelham vs Gilford
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).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Newton | Pelham | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
4,836Lowest |
14,449Highest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
| Gilford and Newton 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 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% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Newton and Pelham 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 |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$456,500±$56kLowest 13% 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 |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 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% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest 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 |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Lowest 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Pelham School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.