What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).

Alton has the most expensive homes ($430k median).

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	Wilder	Alton
People
Population	3,087Lowest	5,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S.
	Alton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	13.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Alton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	25.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wilder and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S.	$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S.	$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$451 19% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,505Highest 76% above U.S.	$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilder and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Alton and Wilder 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	—	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school 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

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.