Compare towns
Wakefield vs Underhill 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 affordable homes ($323k median).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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 | Underhill | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
3,141Lowest |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Wakefield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Underhill 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. |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above 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±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Underhill and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,183 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 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%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Underhill and Wakefield 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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.