Compare towns
Alton vs Mapleton vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Mapleton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
1,884Lowest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Alton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 41% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| 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±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Alton 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 | — | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Wakefield 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.