Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Freedom 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).
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Alton has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Freedom | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
1,494Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8 32% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
53.7±3.2Lowest 24% above NH |
| Freedom and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Freedom and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.4% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Wolfeboro and Freedom 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 |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
| Alton and Wolfeboro 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 |
$389,000±$43kLowest 3% below NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76 26% below NH |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Highest 32% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
$4,183 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Freedom 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 | — | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Freedom School District | 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 Our Story | 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.