Compare towns
Alton vs Barnstead vs Wakefield vs Atkinson
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 youngest population (median age 42.8).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Wakefield | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,994 |
4,994Lowest |
5,405 |
7,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Atkinson 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%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson 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% NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| Atkinson 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±$25k 10% below NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 37% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$6,918Highest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson 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% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Barnstead School District | Wakefield School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.