Compare towns
Alstead vs Wolfeboro vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Alstead | Wolfeboro | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
6,571Highest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
| Madison and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 20% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Alstead 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.