Compare towns
Strafford vs Acton vs Gilmanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Gilmanton has the shortest commute (33 min average).
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 | Strafford | Acton | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Highest |
2,721Lowest |
4,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
45±4.4Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$117,088±$9k 45% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$363,700±$42k 9% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
— | $1,125±$421Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 95% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$6,235Highest 100% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
99.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #43 of 133 in ME | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Acton Public Schools | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.