Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Dover vs Sullivan 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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Dover | Sullivan | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
33,364Highest |
687Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
46.6±6.5 8% 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% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Sullivan 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Sullivan 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 5% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
| Alton and Sullivan 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 |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 32% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,099 24% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Sullivan 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Dover School District | — | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | — | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.