Compare towns
Sutton vs Strafford 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
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Strafford has the youngest population (median age 46.3).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 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 | Sutton | Strafford | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,239Lowest |
4,306 |
7,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
| Gilford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$116,635±$11kLowest 18% above NH |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
| Gilford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,652Highest 15% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford 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 | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Strafford School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.