Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Canton 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Alton has the most affordable 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.
| Measure | Wolfeboro | Canton | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571 |
24,748Highest |
5,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% 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% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canton 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±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 45% above U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Wolfeboro 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Canton High | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.