What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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	Weare
People
Population	5,994Lowest	9,170Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH	45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%	13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%	41.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kLowest 15% above NH	$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH
	Weare 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±$37kHighest 7% above NH	$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average
	Alton and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,541±$214 3% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH	$6,272Highest 6% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Weare and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 24% above NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Weare 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	#84 of 120 in NH
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	John Stark Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.