Compare towns

Wolfeboro vs Dunstable 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).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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.

MeasureWolfeboroDunstableAlton
People
Population
6,571Highest
3,408Lowest
5,994
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
41.5±2.4Lowest
7% 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%
22.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15%±2.6Lowest
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%
62.4%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%
7.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dunstable 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.
$208,512±$23kHighest
158% above U.S.
$113,715±$19k
41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$546,500±$60k
64% above U.S.
$674,000±$30kHighest
103% above U.S.
$430,400±$37kLowest
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,325±$637Highest
6% below U.S.
—
Dunstable 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.
$9,020Highest
189% above U.S.
$4,183Lowest
34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60%±77.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.7%±27.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunstable 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%
0.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 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
30% above U.S.
33 min
25% above U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wolfeboro and Dunstable 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 #4 of 282 in MA #72 of 120 in NH
School district Governor Wentworth Regional School District Groton-Dunstable Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town Kingswood Regional High School None in town Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
—
11.1
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.