Compare towns
Alton vs Castleton vs Gilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Gilford has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Castleton | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
4,453Lowest |
7,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.2±3.9 24% above U.S. |
| Alton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gilford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$116,635±$11kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Gilford 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 29% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$456,500±$56kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Gilford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,150±$747Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Gilford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 34% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,868Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gilford 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.