Compare towns
Alton vs Lee vs New Boston
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 the oldest population (median age 53.7).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
New Boston has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Lee | New Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
4,576Lowest |
6,165Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Lee 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3 NH: 6% |
| Lee and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kLowest 15% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
| New Boston and Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
| New Boston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,193±$111 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee and Alton 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and New Boston 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #21 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | New Boston School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.