What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k 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	Washington	Gilsum
People
Population	1,208Highest	716Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55±4.7Highest 27% above NH	44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH
	Washington and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%	12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Washington and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29%±3Highest NH: 20.1%	19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Highest NH: 40.6%	18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Washington and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,453±$12kHighest 10% below NH	$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH
	Washington and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH	$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,106±$160Lowest 26% below NH	$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH
	Gilsum and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,321Lowest 35% below NH	$5,579Highest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Gilsum and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	13.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 33% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 16.8%	11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Washington and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Washington School District	Monadnock Regional 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.