Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Plaistow 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%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Plaistow | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571 |
7,861Highest |
5,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plaistow 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 |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
| Alton and Plaistow 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 |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 32% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.