Compare towns
Alton vs Hampton vs Gilford
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%).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
Gilford has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Lowest |
16,426Highest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
48.2±3.9Lowest 11% above NH |
| Hampton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hampton 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±$19k 15% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
| 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±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
| Hampton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
$4,868 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Hampton 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Winnacunnet High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.