Compare towns
Northfield vs Gilford vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Franklin has the most renters (35.8% rent).
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 | Northfield | Gilford | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971Lowest |
7,830 |
8,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
42.7±2 about the NH average |
| Gilford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Northfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
| Gilford and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33k 28% below NH |
$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,150±$747Highest 23% below NH |
$1,110±$68 26% below NH |
| Gilford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Highest 24% below NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$4,886 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford and Franklin 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Gilford School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gilford High School | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.