Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Wakefield 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%).
Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% 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 | Wakefield | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
5,405Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
49.4±4.1Lowest 14% 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% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest 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% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Wolfeboro and Wakefield 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 |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
| Alton and Wakefield 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 |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
— |
| Wakefield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Highest 32% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$4,183 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alton and Wolfeboro 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% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Wakefield 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 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.