The Town FilesGilford, New Hampshire
Town in Belknap County · population 7,699 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $456,500
- Household income
- $116,635
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 48.2
Gilford is a town of 7,699 people in Belknap County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $456,500, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks more upscale than 73% of New Hampshire towns, more vibrant than 71% of New Hampshire towns.
How Gilford ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Gilford is worth $456,500, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $116,635, which is more affordable than 46% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,150 a month. 93.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gilford | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $456,500 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,150 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $116,635 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.1% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 37.7% | — |
Who lives in Gilford
| People | Gilford | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.4% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 16.9% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 92.5% |
Weather in Gilford
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 11.7°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.9 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gilford since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 3, 1972 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 22, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 26, 2022.
Severe weather in Belknap County since 1996
Belknap County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4693: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Belknap County
Belknap County had 25,854 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,999 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Gilford itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Gilford
3 public schools with 1,094 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilford High School | 9-12 | 491 | 12.0 |
| Gilford Elementary School | K-4 | 309 | 9.4 |
| Gilford Middle School | 5-8 | 294 | 10.1 |
Towns near Gilford
- Gilmanton, NH6.1 mi · 3,945 people · home $363,700
- Belmont, NH6.2 mi · 7,314 people · home $316,300
- Laconia, NH6.6 mi · 16,871 people · home $340,300
- Alton, NH7.1 mi · 5,894 people · home $430,400
- Wolfeboro, NH9.7 mi · 3,300 people · home $475,200
- Meredith, NH9.9 mi · 6,662 people · home $480,100
- Tilton, NH10.6 mi · 3,962 people · home $216,700
- Meredith, NH11.0 mi · 2,527 people · home $450,000
Gilford questions
Is Gilford, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gilford scores better for retirees than 29% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 44%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Gilford?
The median owner-occupied home in Gilford is valued at $456,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,635, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,150 a month.
What is the weather like in Gilford?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 11.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 61.9 inches of snow.
Does Gilford get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gilford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 3, 1972. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)