What stands out worked out from the figures below

Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

Gilford has the most homeowners (93.1%).

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	Haverhill	Gilford
People
Population	67,698Highest	7,830Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±1.1Lowest about the U.S. average	48.2±3.9Highest 24% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Haverhill and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S.	$116,635±$11kHighest 44% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$453,900±$9kLowest 36% above U.S.	$456,500±$56kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Gilford and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,668±$49Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,150±$747Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Haverhill and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S.	$4,868Highest 56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gilford and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gilford and Haverhill 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	#243 of 282 in MA	#45 of 120 in NH
School district	Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical	Gilford School District
High school in town	Haverhill High	Gilford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.5Lowest
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.