Compare towns
Plaistow vs Francestown 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
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Plaistow | Francestown | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
1,398Lowest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
| Francestown and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plaistow and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
| Gilford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
| Gilford and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Plaistow and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | — | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 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.