Compare towns
Alton vs Gilford vs Weare
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%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Gilford | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Lowest |
7,830 |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Gilford 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% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Weare and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kLowest 15% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
| Weare and Gilford 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 |
$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Gilford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
| Weare and Gilford 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 |
$4,868 27% below NH |
$6,272Highest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Gilford 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 | #45 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Gilford School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Gilford High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.