What stands out worked out from the figures below

Haverhill has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

Alton has the most homeowners (93.7%).

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	Haverhill	Alton
People
Population	67,698Highest	5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±1.1Lowest about the U.S. average	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22%	13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S.	$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$453,900±$9kHighest 36% above U.S.	$430,400±$37kLowest 29% above U.S.
	Haverhill and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,668±$49 18% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,772Highest 53% above U.S.	$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.2%±5.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Haverhill and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Alton and Haverhill 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	#243 of 282 in MA	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Haverhill High	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.