Compare towns
Meredith vs Barnard vs Gilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Gilford has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Meredith | Barnard | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
1,211Lowest |
7,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
48.2±3.9 24% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Meredith and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$116,635±$11kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Gilford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$456,500±$56k 37% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$747 19% below U.S. |
| Barnard and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,868Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilford and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Barnard 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.