Compare towns
Alton vs Hampton vs Wakefield
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%).
Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% 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 | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
16,426Highest |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
49.4±4.1Lowest 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% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest 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% |
26.2%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 Wakefield 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 |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
| Alton and Wakefield 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 |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton and Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Wakefield 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 |
— |
| 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.