Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Plainfield | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
2,522Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 32% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Plainfield 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 History | 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.