Compare towns
Meredith vs Durham 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
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Gilford has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
10,681Highest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
| 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%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
| Gilford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$456,500±$56kLowest 13% above NH |
| Durham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,150±$747 23% below NH |
| Durham and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| 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.