Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Hanover 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 oldest population (median age 57).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571 |
11,685Highest |
5,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below 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% |
14.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hanover 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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 NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest 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 |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Wolfeboro 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Hanover High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.