What stands out worked out from the figures below

Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Weare	Alton
People
Population	9,170Highest	5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2%	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH	$113,715±$19kLowest 15% above NH
	Weare and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average	$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH
	Alton and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,541±$214 3% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,272Highest 6% below NH	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2%	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Weare and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	33 minLowest 24% above NH
Work from home	22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8%	13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Weare 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	#84 of 120 in NH	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	John Stark Regional High School	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.