Compare towns

Alton vs Wakefield vs Windsor

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%).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).

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.

MeasureAltonWakefieldWindsor
People
Population
5,994Highest
5,405
3,554Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.7±3.2Highest
38% above U.S.
49.4±4.1
27% above U.S.
44.8±6.5Lowest
15% 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%
18.7%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windsor and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.1%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
26.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
41% above U.S.
$100,976±$11k
25% above U.S.
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below U.S.
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±$37kHighest
29% above U.S.
$322,800±$43k
about the U.S. average
$207,500±$31kLowest
38% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,375±$434Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,026±$89Lowest
27% below U.S.
Wakefield and Windsor 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.
$2,954Lowest
5% below U.S.
$5,209Highest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.7%±27.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±82.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.5%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
Alton and Windsor 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%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±9.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±5Lowest
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 #118 of 120 in NH #61 of 70 in VT
School district Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District Wakefield School District —
High school in town Prospect Mountain High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.