Gilford

Belknap County•Lakes Region•Population: 7,699

Overview

Gilford sits on the western shore of Lake Winnipesaukee in Belknap County, combining lake access with proximity to Gunstock Mountain Resort's skiing and mountain biking trails. The town's mix of waterfront and mountain recreation makes it a year-round destination rather than a purely seasonal one.

Gilford's town beach, marinas, and lakeside neighborhoods anchor a summer economy built around boating and tourism, while Gunstock draws winter visitors for skiing and snowboarding. The Lakes Region's summer traffic funnels through Gilford en route to Laconia and Weirs Beach.

Housing ranges from modest inland homes to premium lakefront property, with prices rising sharply the closer one gets to Winnipesaukee's shoreline. Gilford attracts families, retirees, and second-home buyers seeking four-season recreation in a single town.

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

•Lake access
•Ski resort
•Four-season recreation
•Scenic views

✗ Cons

•Expensive lakefront
•Tourist traffic
•Seasonal crowds

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Gilford.

2025 Local Tax Rate

$11.85

per $1,000 assessed value

2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate

$9.01

Equalization ratio: 76%

Municipal

$4.03

Local School

$5.61

State Education

$1.15

County

$1.06

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

Year	Total Rate	Effective Rate	Municipal	Local School	State Ed.	County
2025	$11.85	$9.01	$4.03	$5.61	$1.15	$1.06

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home Value	Estimated Annual Tax	Estimated Monthly
$250,000	$2,963	$247
$350,000	$4,148	$346
$500,000	$5,925	$494
$750,000	$8,888	$741
$1,000,000	$11,850	$988

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $11.85 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Open Full Calculator →Compare With Other Towns →View Statewide Rankings →

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High

77.5°F

Winter Avg High

33.5°F

Annual Snowfall

58.2 in

Annual Rainfall

45.3 in

Sunny Days/Year

266

Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 • Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston

99 mi

~120 min drive

Manchester

49 mi

~63 min drive

Portsmouth

54 mi

~88 min drive

Concord

31 mi

~42 min drive

Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap • Updated 7/3/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score

63/100

Trail Miles

94.1

Boat Launches

State Parks

Ski Areas

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:20 miles

XC Ski Trails:0 miles

Campgrounds:4

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income

$112,522

Per Capita Income

$53,036

Median Family Income

$122,827

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value

$363,700

Median Rent

$974/mo

Homeownership Rate

90.29%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate

1.61%

In Labor Force

3,854

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

20.55%

Total with Degree

1,164

👥Demographics

Median Age

46.8 years

Avg Household Size

2.52 people

Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) • Census Data Year: 2022 • Updated 7/3/2026

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