Compare towns
Alton vs Wolfeboro vs Madison
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%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Wolfeboro | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
6,571Highest |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Wolfeboro 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Wolfeboro and Madison 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 |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
| Alton and Madison 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 37% below NH |
$4,531Highest 32% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison 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 NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
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.