Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Newfields vs Exeter 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Alton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
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 | Newfields | Exeter | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,571 |
2,023Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
— |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 photos → | 59 photos → | 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.