Compare towns
Strafford vs Mapleton vs Hampstead 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Mapleton | Hampstead | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,306 |
1,884Lowest |
9,102Highest |
4,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
45±4.4 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Hampstead 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hampstead 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Hampstead 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above 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±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$363,700±$42k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,125±$421 20% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Hampstead 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,235 100% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
99.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hampstead School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.