Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Hancock 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 most people working from home (22.9%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k 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 | Hancock | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
435Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
33.8±11.6Lowest 13% below 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% |
17.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hancock and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hancock 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 17% above U.S. |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| 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 64% above U.S. |
$187,900±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S. |
$939±$19Lowest 34% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,511Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$4,183 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alton and Wolfeboro 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Alton 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 | — | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | — | 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.