Compare towns
Alton vs Putney vs Loudon
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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Loudon has the most kids (16.8% 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 | Putney | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
2,622Lowest |
5,692 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.5±3.2 27% above U.S. |
| Alton and Loudon 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% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Loudon and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,966±$16k 32% above U.S. |
| Alton and Loudon 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. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$363,400±$48k 9% above U.S. |
| Alton and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,321±$465Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Loudon and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,821Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±30.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Loudon 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Merrimack Valley 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 | 6 photos → | 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.