Compare towns

Alton vs Hampton vs Loudon

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%).
Loudon has the most kids (16.8% 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.

MeasureAltonHamptonLoudon
People
Population
5,994
16,426Highest
5,692Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%
NH: +4.6%
+4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
53.7±3.2
24% above NH
55.8±2.1Highest
29% above NH
49.5±3.2Lowest
14% 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%
16.8%±4.2Highest
NH: 18.2%
Loudon 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%
22%±4.4Lowest
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%
NH: 40.6%
42.8%Highest
NH: 40.6%
29.3%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±0.8Lowest
NH: 6%
3.1%±1.1Highest
NH: 6%
1.4%±1.1
NH: 6%
Hampton and Loudon 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
$95,233±$9kLowest
4% below NH
$106,966±$16k
8% above NH
Alton and Loudon 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
$550,200±$39kHighest
37% above NH
$363,400±$48kLowest
10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,628±$94Highest
9% above NH
$1,321±$465Lowest
11% below NH
Hampton and Loudon 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
$5,821
13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.7%±27.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
56.8%±10.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
45.5%±30.4
NH: 48.2%
Hampton and Loudon 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%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.4%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
73.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
89.6%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
24% above NH
26 minLowest
3% below NH
30 min
14% above NH
Work from home
13.1%±5.2
NH: 16.8%
21.7%±3.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
8.9%±4.9Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #72 of 120 in NH #31 of 120 in NH #99 of 120 in NH
School district Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town Prospect Mountain High School Winnacunnet High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
10.1Lowest
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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.