Compare towns
Meredith vs Dummerston vs Castleton 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 oldest population (median age 55.5).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Dummerston | Castleton | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,758 |
2,090Lowest |
4,453 |
7,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$116,635±$11kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Gilford and Dummerston 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. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below 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±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,150±$747 19% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,868 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% 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. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Meredith 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | 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 | 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.