Compare towns
Alton vs Ossipee 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%).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Ossipee | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
4,521Lowest |
7,830Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
48.2±3.9Lowest 11% above NH |
| Alton and Ossipee 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% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee 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% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Ossipee and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH |
| Gilford and Alton 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 |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$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 | — | $1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Ossipee 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 |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$4,868Highest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Gilford 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% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Gilford 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.