Compare towns
Alton vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Tuftonboro has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Wakefield | Tuftonboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
5,405 |
2,569Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
49.4±4.1Lowest 14% above NH |
51.9±7.5 20% above NH |
| Alton and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±6.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Tuftonboro and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Wakefield 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 |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$100,574±$16kLowest about the NH average |
| Alton and Wakefield 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 |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$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 | — | $1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
$1,311±$358Lowest 12% below NH |
| Wakefield and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Highest 37% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$3,004 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
6.5%±28.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Alton and Tuftonboro 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% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 minLowest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.3%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield and Tuftonboro 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Wakefield School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.