What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has the oldest population (median age 53.7).

Epping has the most people working from home (24%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alton	Epping
People
Population	5,994Lowest	7,430Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	+11.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH	45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2%
	Epping and Alton 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%	22.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Alton and Epping 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 NH: 40.6%	37%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH	$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH
	Alton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH	$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH
	Epping and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,742±$576 17% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH	$6,936Highest 4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Epping 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%	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH	1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above NH	32 minLowest 21% above NH
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Epping 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	#77 of 120 in NH
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	Epping School District
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	Epping High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	9.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.