Compare towns
Wakefield vs Orange 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
Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Orange | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Lowest |
7,573Highest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orange and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Alton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
— |
| Wakefield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,183Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 24% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.