Compare towns
Alton vs Hooksett 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%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Gilford has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Hooksett | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48.2±3.9 11% 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% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kLowest 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Hooksett 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 |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
| Gilford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hooksett 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 |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,868 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Hooksett School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 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.