Compare towns
Alton vs Epping vs Wakefield 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%).
Epping has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Wakefield | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,994 |
7,430Highest |
5,405Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
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% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest 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% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Epping 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 |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below 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±$37k 7% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| 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 37% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6 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% NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Epping School District | Wakefield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Epping High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.