Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Appleton vs Mapleton 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
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Wolfeboro | Appleton | Mapleton | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Alton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— |
| Appleton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,183 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — | — | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.