Compare towns
Alton vs Sunapee vs Tuftonboro
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%).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
Tuftonboro 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.
| Measure | Alton | Sunapee | Tuftonboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
3,416 |
2,569Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
51.9±7.5Lowest 20% above NH |
| Sunapee and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Tuftonboro and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Tuftonboro 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 NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$100,574±$16kLowest about the NH average |
| Alton and Sunapee 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 |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$462,300±$46kHighest 15% above NH |
| Tuftonboro and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,311±$358Lowest 12% below NH |
| Sunapee and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 37% below NH |
$4,400Highest 34% below NH |
$3,004Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
6.5%±28.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sunapee and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
30 minLowest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.3%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Tuftonboro 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.