Gilsum

Cheshire Countyβ€’Monadnock Regionβ€’Population: 752

Overview

Gilsum is a small, rural town in Cheshire County near Keene, with forested hills and the Ashuelot River. The town is known locally for its mineral deposits and annual rock swap event.

The Ashuelot River offers fishing and paddling, while Gilsum's proximity to Keene provides access to a larger city's retail and job market. The town's small commercial presence serves the surrounding rural community.

Housing in Gilsum remains affordable relative to Keene, drawing families and commuters who want rural living close to the Monadnock Region's largest city.

Pros & Cons

βœ“ Pros

  • β€’River access
  • β€’Near Keene
  • β€’Affordable
  • β€’Rural character

βœ— Cons

  • β€’Limited services
  • β€’No downtown
  • β€’Small population

Cost of Owning Here

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

2025 Local Tax Rate
$16.13
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$15.48
Equalization ratio: 96%
Municipal
$4.54
Local School
$8.60
State Education
$0.89
County
$2.10

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.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$16.13$15.48$4.54$8.60$0.89$2.10

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$4,032$336
$350,000$5,646$471
$500,000$8,065$672
$750,000$12,098$1,008
$1,000,000$16,130$1,344

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $16.13 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.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
77.8Β°F
Winter Avg High
34.1Β°F
Annual Snowfall
57 in
Annual Rainfall
48.1 in
Sunny Days/Year
261
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
109 mi
~145 min drive
Manchester
62 mi
~89 min drive
Portsmouth
104 mi
~138 min drive
Concord
49 mi
~78 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
20/100
Trail Miles
1.0
0
State Parks
1
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:0 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:1

Economy & Demographics

πŸ’°Income

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$33,827
Median Family Income
$85,208

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$218,300
Median Rent
$1,338/mo
Homeownership Rate
91.94%

πŸ’ΌEmployment

Unemployment Rate
7.08%
In Labor Force
537

πŸŽ“Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
10.4%
Total with Degree
65

πŸ‘₯Demographics

Median Age
44.3 years
Avg Household Size
2.78 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) β€’ Census Data Year: 2022 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Gilsum with Other Towns

See how Gilsum stacks up against other NH communities.