Compare towns
Alton vs Canaan 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%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Canaan | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
3,811Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
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% |
14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Wolfeboro 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% |
19.1%±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% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Alton and Wolfeboro 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 |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Canaan and Wolfeboro 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 |
$5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Canaan 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.