Compare towns
Alton vs Epping vs Ogunquit vs Wakefield
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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Epping has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
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 | Epping | Ogunquit | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,994 |
7,430Highest |
1,379Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Ogunquit 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 41% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | $1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Wakefield 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Epping 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 | — | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Epping School District | — | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Epping High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.