Compare towns
Weare vs Plainfield vs Gilford vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Gilford has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Weare | Plainfield | Gilford | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
2,522Lowest |
7,830 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Gilford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$116,635±$11kLowest 18% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Chester and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
— |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 6% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Plainfield 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Plainfield School District | Gilford School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Gilford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.