Compare towns
Alton vs Sutton vs New Durham
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%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Sutton | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
9,452Highest |
2,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.5±7.5 20% above U.S. |
| Alton and New Durham 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and New Durham 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and New Durham 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$100,194±$13kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 29% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$339,400±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,417±$116Highest about the U.S. average |
| New Durham and Sutton 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,774 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #72 of 120 in NH | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Sutton | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.