Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Chester 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
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Chester | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
5,300 |
7,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
47.2±3.8Lowest 9% above NH |
48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chester and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$116,635±$11kLowest 18% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$456,500±$56kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
— | $1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls and Gilford 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Chester School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.