Compare towns
Alton vs Barnstead vs Nottingham vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Alton | Barnstead | Nottingham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,994 |
4,994Lowest |
5,357 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$122,201±$20kHighest 23% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Nottingham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$7,319Highest 10% above NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Nottingham 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Barnstead School District | Nottingham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.