What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).

Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

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	Townsend	Gilford
People
Population	9,100Highest	7,830Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.	48.2±3.9Highest 24% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gilford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.	$116,635±$11kLowest 44% above U.S.
	Townsend and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S.	$456,500±$56kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Gilford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,150±$747Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Townsend and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.	$4,868Lowest 56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Gilford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gilford and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#45 of 120 in NH
School district	North Middlesex	Gilford School District
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Gilford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.