What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).

Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Strafford	Gilmanton
People
Population	4,306Highest	4,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH	45±4.4Lowest 4% above NH
	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%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2%	17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%	17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Strafford and Gilmanton 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 NH: 40.6%	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6%
	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 23% above NH	$117,088±$9kLowest 18% above NH
	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 6% above NH	$363,700±$42kLowest 10% below NH
	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 10% above NH	$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH
	Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,086Lowest 9% below NH	$6,235Highest 6% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2%	57.1%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest NH: 7.2%	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	99.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	33 minLowest 23% above NH
Work from home	15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8%	8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Strafford and Gilmanton 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	#25 of 120 in NH
School district	Strafford School District	Gilmanton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.