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Gilford, NH


gilford New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact Town of Gilford
Scott Dunn, Town Administrator
47 Cherry Valley Road
Gilford, NH 03249
Telephone (603) 527-4700
Fax (603) 527-4711
E-mail selectmen@gilfordnh.org
Web Site www.gilfordnh.org

Municipal Office Hours Town Hall: Monday to Friday 8-4:30; Town Clerk/Tax Collector: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8-4:30, Thursdays, 8-6

County Belknap
Labor Market Area Laconia, NH Micropolitan NECTA
Tourism Region Lakes
Planning Commission Lakes Region
Regional Development Belknap County Economic Development Council

Election Districts
US Congress District District 1
Executive Council District District 1
State Senate District District 2
State Representative Belknap County District 6

Incorporated: 1812
Origin: Once a part of Gilmanton called Gunstock Parish, this town was named for a key battle at the end of the revolution, the Battle of Guilford Court House, North Carolina. The American forces managed to deplete Cornwallis's army so they were forced to retreat, leading to the surrender at Yorktown. Sargent Lemuel B. Mason, who fought in that battle, had retired to Gunstock Parish. As the town's oldest citizen when it was incorporated in 1812, Sargent Mason had the honor of selecting a name, and he chose Gilford. North Carolina's Guilford Court House has long since been renamed Martinsville.
Villages and Place Names: Ames, Dockham Shore, Glendale, Lake Shore Park, Belknap Point
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,816 residents in 1820
Population Trends: Population change for Gilford totaled 4,474 over 50 years, from 3,219 in 1970 to 7,693 in 2020. The 2022 Census estimate for Gilford was 7,860 residents, which ranked 41st among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2022 (US Census Bureau): 202.6 persons per square mile of land area. Gilford contains 38.8 square miles of land area and 14.7 square miles of inland water area.

Municipal Services
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2023 $18,665,532
Budget: School Appropriations, 2023-2024 $27,475,567
Zoning Ordinance 1962/23
Master Plan 2017
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected:Selectmen; Fire Engineers; School; Library; Budget; Cemetery; Checklist; Trust Funds
Appointed:Planning; Conservation; Zoning; Recreation; Historic
Public Library Gilford Public

Emergency Services
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Emergency Medical Service Municipal
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Concord Hospital - Laconia 4 miles 72

Utilities
Electric Supplier Eversource Energy; NH Electric Coop
Natural Gas Supplier Liberty Utilities
Water Supplier Gilford Village District; Gunstock Acres Village District
Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupPrivate
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramNo
Recycling ProgramMandatory
Telephone Company Consolidated Communications
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessYes
ResidentialYes

(NH Dept. of Revenue Administration) Property Taxes
2022 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $12.25
2022 Equalization Ratio 70.1
2022 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $8.58
2022 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings90.2%
Commercial Land and Buildings9.0%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other0.8%

(ACS 2017-2021) Housing
Total Housing Units 5,247
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 4,329
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 115
Five or More Units in Structure 332
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 471
(US Census Bureau) Population
(1-Year Estimates/Decennial)
Total Population Community County
2022 7,860 64,781
2020 7,699 63,705
2010 7,126 60,088
2000 6,836 56,576
1990 6,016 49,294
1980 4,841 42,884
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021
Population by Gender
Male:   3,519 Female:   4,123
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 491
Age 5 to 19 1,149
Age 20 to 34 865
Age 35 to 54 2,144
Age 55 to 64 1,364
Age 65 and over 1,629
Median Age 47.0 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over 5,750
High school graduate or higher 98.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher 41.9%

(ACS 2017-2021) Income, Inflation Adjusted $
Per capita income $51,039
Median family income $112,171
Median household income $102,358
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $84,630
Female $44,737
Individuals below the poverty level 4.7%

(NHES - ELMI) Labor Force
Annual Average 2012 2022
Civilian Labor Force 3,851 3,646
Employed 3,648 3,548
Unemployed 203 98
Unemployment Rate 5.3% 2.7%

(NHES - ELMI) Employment & Wages
Annual Average Covered Employment 2012 2022
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 269 341
Average Weekly Wage $834 $1,499
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 2,087 2,432
Average Weekly Wage $658 $902
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 2,356 2,773
Average Weekly Wage $678 $975
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 650 679
Average Weekly Wage $637 $776
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 3,006 3,452
Average Weekly Wage $669 $936

If "n" appears, data does not meet disclosure standards.


(NH Dept. of Education) Education and Child Care
Schools students attend: Gilford operates grades K-12 SAU 73
Career Technology Center(s): J. Oliva Huot Technical Center (Laconia); Winnisquam Agricultural Programs
Educational Facilities (includes Charter Schools) Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 1 1 1
Grade Levels K 1-4 5-8 9-12 9-12
Total Enrollment 322 305 499
2022 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 4 Total Capacity: 300
Nearest Community/Technical College: Lakes Region; NHTI-Concord
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Plymouth State; Granite State; UNH School of Law

Largest Businesses Product/Service Employees Established
Gunstock Recreation Area Ski, recreation area 550
Hannaford Brothers Supermarket 200 1991
Wal-Mart Retail store 200 1998
Gilford School District Education 260
Town of Gilford Municipal services 101 1812
Orthopedic Professional Association Medical services 50 1999
WLNH/WLKZ/WEMJ Radio stations 33
Shaws Supermarket Supermarket 113 2001
Bank of New Hampshire Banking services 115 2002

Employer Information Supplied by Municipality


(Distance estimated from city/town hall) Transportation
Road Access US Routes
State Routes 11, 11A, 11B, 11C
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 20
Distance 12 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation WTS
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Laconia MunicipalRunway5,286 ft. asphalt
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 54 miles
Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport 4
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 48 miles
Portland, ME 81 miles
Boston, MA 99 miles
New York City, NY 298 miles
Montreal, Quebec 239 miles

(ACS 2017-2021) Commuting to Work
Workers 16 years and over 3,766
Drove alone, car/truck/van 86.6%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 3.7%
Public transportation 0.0%
Walked 0.7%
Other Means 0.0%
Worked at home 9.0%
Mean Travel Time to Work 23.0 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2017-2021)
Working in community of residence 27.5%
Commuting to another NH community 70.0%
Commuting out-of-state 2.5%
Recreation, Attractions, and Events
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
X Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
X Museums
X Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
X Tourist Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
X Youth Sports: Hockey
X Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
X Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock
   
Other: Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center; Ellacoya State Beach; Outdoor skating rink

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, October 2023. Community Response Received 7/20/23

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

 

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