Compare towns
Wakefield vs Barnstead 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
Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Barnstead has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Wakefield | Barnstead | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
4,994Lowest |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Alton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
| Alton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
— |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$4,183 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Barnstead 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.