What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

Randolph has the shortest commute (21 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alton	Randolph
People
Population	5,994Highest	4,843Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.	40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Randolph and Alton 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%	22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Alton and Randolph 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 U.S.: 35.7%	40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S.	$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S.	$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,172±$173 17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S.	$4,698Highest 51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Randolph and Alton 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%	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Alton and Randolph 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	#55 of 70 in VT
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	Randolph Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	9.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.