Compare towns

Wolfeboro vs Douglas 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).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% 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.

MeasureWolfeboroDouglasAlton
People
Population
6,571
9,207Highest
5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
44±2.6Lowest
13% 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%
21.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Douglas 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.
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$113,715±$19k
41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
$430,400±$37kLowest
29% above U.S.
Wolfeboro and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
—
Douglas and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,531
45% above U.S.
$6,338Highest
103% above U.S.
$4,183Lowest
34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.7%±27.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Douglas 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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
33 min
25% above U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wolfeboro and Douglas 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 #177 of 282 in MA #72 of 120 in NH
School district Governor Wentworth Regional School District Douglas Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town Kingswood Regional High School Douglas High School Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
7.2Lowest
11.1Highest
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.