Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Bennington 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%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
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 | Bennington | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571 |
15,249Highest |
5,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Lowest 15% 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% |
17.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Wolfeboro 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% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and Wolfeboro 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. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below 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. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Bennington 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. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington 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% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Bennington 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.