Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Reading vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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 | Reading | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
699Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Lowest 31% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading 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±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Alton and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Wolfeboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531 45% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 120 in NH | — | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
U.S. 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.