What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the most kids (21% 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	Townsend
People
Population	5,994Lowest	9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kLowest 41% above U.S.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend 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±$37kLowest 29% above U.S.	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Townsend and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,469±$313 4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S.	$6,031Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Alton and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	13.1Highest
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.