Compare towns
Alton vs Westminster vs Wolfeboro
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%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Westminster | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
2,999Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Lowest 38% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Alton 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% |
18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Wolfeboro 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. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Alton and Wolfeboro 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. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Westminster 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. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Wolfeboro 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.6Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.