What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has the most people working from home (15.3%).

Bradford has the highest household income ($83k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alton	Bradford
People
Population	819Lowest	1,254Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-8.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.1±5.9Lowest 10% above ME	49.7±8Highest 11% above ME
	Bradford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Bradford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4%	21.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Alton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	19%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8%	1.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Alton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,955±$9kLowest 16% below ME	$82,955±$26kHighest 11% above ME
	Bradford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$179,500±$25kHighest 39% below ME	$176,200±$15kLowest 41% below ME
	Alton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$866±$48Highest 24% below ME	$742±$392Lowest 35% below ME
	Alton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,476Lowest 51% below ME	$2,315Highest 24% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.3%±88.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	87.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Bradford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	24.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	86.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	39 minHighest 57% above ME
Work from home	15.3%±7.3Highest ME: 15.9%	8.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Alton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 34	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.