Compare towns
Weare vs Somersworth vs Plaistow 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
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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.
| Measure | Weare | Somersworth | Plaistow | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
12,111Highest |
7,861 |
7,830Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
| Gilford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Gilford 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% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Plaistow 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% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Somersworth and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Weare and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
| Gilford and Plaistow 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 |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Gilford 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Somersworth School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Somersworth High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
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.