Compare towns
Alton vs Townsend vs Wakefield
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%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k 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 | Townsend | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
9,100Highest |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Alton and Wakefield 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Wakefield 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Wakefield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%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% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kLowest 25% 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±$37k 29% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,375±$434Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 34% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | North Middlesex | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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| 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.