Compare towns
Alton vs Pittsfield vs Danville
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%).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
Danville has the most homeowners (97.4%).
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 | Pittsfield | Danville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
4,105Lowest |
4,531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
42±4 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6 NH: 18.2% |
21.6%±7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Danville and Pittsfield 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% |
18.7%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Pittsfield 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% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Pittsfield and Danville 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 |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
$115,104±$21kHighest 16% above NH |
| Danville 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 |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
$437,600±$26kHighest 9% above NH |
| Danville and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH |
$2,144±$867Highest 44% above NH |
| Danville and Pittsfield 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 |
$5,694 15% below NH |
$8,504Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3 NH: 48.2% |
70.2%±61.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Danville and Pittsfield 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% |
11.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 30% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH | #40 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Pittsfield School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Pittsfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.