Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Croydon vs Bethlehem vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Croydon has the youngest population (median age 43).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
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 | Croydon | Bethlehem | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
798Lowest |
2,537 |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
43±9.1Lowest about the NH average |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
19%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Croydon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% NH: 40.6% |
21.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Croydon 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 5% below NH |
$98,333±$21k about the NH average |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
| Alton and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$317,300±$33k 21% below NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76 26% below NH |
$991±$336Lowest 34% below NH |
$1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH |
— |
| Bethlehem and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 32% below NH |
$3,806Lowest 43% below NH |
$5,418Highest 19% below NH |
$4,183 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | — | #34 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Croydon School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Profile Senior High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.