Compare towns
Alton vs Hampton vs Sunapee
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%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k 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 | Hampton | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
16,426Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Lowest 24% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Sunapee and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Alton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Hampton 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Hampton 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 |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Alton and Sunapee 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 |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Hampton 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 |
$4,400 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Winnacunnet High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.