Compare towns
Alton vs Ware vs Newton
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Ware | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
10,048Highest |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
| Alton and Newton 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Newton 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Newton 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$459,500±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Newton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Newton 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newton 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Ware | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.1 |
— |
| 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.