What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has the most expensive homes ($430k median).

Rochester has the most kids (18.2% 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.

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

Measure	Alton	Rochester
People
Population	5,994Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	+9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH	43±1.8Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Rochester 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 NH: 20.1%	19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Alton and Rochester 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 NH: 40.6%	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH	$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,369±$72 8% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH	$5,334Highest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Rochester 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 NH: 7.2%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	66%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above NH	26 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8%	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Alton and Rochester 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	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	Rochester School District
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	13.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.