Compare towns
New Durham vs Middlesex vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | New Durham | Middlesex | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,748 |
1,943Lowest |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±7.5 20% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Alton and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,194±$13kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Alton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,400±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Alton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$116Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| New Durham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,774 85% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±42.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alton and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.