Compare towns
Plainfield vs Gilford vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Plainfield | Gilford | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
7,830Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Gilford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$116,635±$11kLowest 18% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Gilford School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gilford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.