Compare towns
Strafford vs Athol 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 people working from home (15.9%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
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 | Athol | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
12,011Highest |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45±4.4 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Athol 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% |
20.4%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%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$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. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$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. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,125±$421Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 95% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,235Highest 100% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
99.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Athol 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Athol-Royalston | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.