Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Hooksett vs Sunapee 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 people working from home (22.9%).
Hooksett has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Alton has the most homeowners (93.7%).
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 | Hooksett | Sunapee | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
15,057Highest |
3,416Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee 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% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Sunapee 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 |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Hooksett and Alton 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
— |
| Sunapee and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 32% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,400 34% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Sunapee 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 min 23% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Sunapee School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
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.