Compare towns
Alton vs Barnstead vs Wakefield vs Loudon
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 people working from home (15.1%).
Loudon has the most renters (10.4% rent).
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 | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
4,994Lowest |
5,405 |
5,692 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
49.5±3.2 14% above NH |
| Alton and Loudon 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% |
16.8%±4.2 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%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
29.3% 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% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
| Alton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
| Alton and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$1,321±$465Lowest 11% 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 |
$6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$5,821 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Loudon 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 minLowest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield and Alton 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 | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Barnstead School District | Wakefield School District | Merrimack Valley 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.