Compare towns
New Durham vs Salisbury vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Durham has the youngest population (median age 46.5).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Salisbury | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,748 |
1,609Lowest |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±7.5Lowest 7% above NH |
51.5±4.5 19% above NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Alton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Salisbury 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 NH: 40.6% |
37.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Salisbury and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,194±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
| Alton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,400±$27kLowest 16% below NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
| Alton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$116Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
— |
| Salisbury and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,774 13% below NH |
$5,859Highest 12% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±42.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 30% above NH |
32 minLowest 20% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 10%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 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.