Population 3,102 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Alton
Household size in Alton
| Period | Alton | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.49 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.28 | 2.50 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.77 | 2.49 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.75 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.26 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Alton holds 2.75 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.49 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Alton
| Period | Alton | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.1 | 40.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.8 | 42.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.3 | 43.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.7 | 44.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +3.5 | +2.3 |
Alton skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Alton
| Period | Alton | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 8.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 8.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.3% of households in Alton, well below the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Alton
Renters in Alton
| Period | Alton | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 27.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.1% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 27.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 8.0% of households in Alton rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 38.6% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Alton
| Period | Alton | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.6% | 12.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.3% | 12.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 34.8% | 12.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.6% | 11.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 29.6% of the housing in Alton, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Alton
| Period | Alton | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Alton was built around 1982, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in New Hampshire as a whole, where the median home dates to 1976.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Alton
| Period | Alton | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $721 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $919 | $1,094 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $999 | $1,224 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $852 | $1,597 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$131 | +$580 | +$606 |
Rent in Alton runs $852 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 23.9% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Alton
Bachelor's degrees in Alton
| Period | Alton | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2% | 33.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.6% | 35.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.7% | 37.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.7% | 41.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +7.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Alton (33.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in New Hampshire as a whole (41.1%).
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Alton
| Period | Alton | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.1% | 91.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.7% | 92.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.0% | 93.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.6% | 94.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Alton: 95.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. New Hampshire as a whole looks much the same.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Alton
| Period | Alton | New Hampshire | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 5.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.9% | 6.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 3.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Alton has been low: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. The picture is much the same across New Hampshire. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Alton compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alton | 2.75 | 48.7 | 3.3% | 8.0% | 29.6% | 1982 | $852 | 33.7% | 95.6% | 3.2% |
| New Durham | 2.49 | 48.1 | 4.1% | 7.1% | 27.5% | 1983 | $1,402 | 31.4% | 94.1% | 8.8% |
| East Alton | 2.63 | 51.4 | 3.4% | 4.0% | 45.8% | 1978 | $1,277 | 38.1% | 96.3% | 4.6% |
| Gilmanton Iron Works | 2.48 | 50.2 | 3.8% | 1.0% | 42.0% | 1982 | $1,137 | 46.5% | 93.7% | 1.0% |
| Center Barnstead | 2.90 | 42.9 | 4.8% | 4.6% | 26.4% | 1986 | $1,377 | 31.0% | 96.4% | 2.9% |
| Alton Bay | 2.74 | 56.6 | 3.0% | 4.4% | 61.0% | 1973 | $1,240 | 43.5% | 96.0% | 1.4% |
| South Wolfeboro | 2.67 | 49.0 | 16.9% | 13.1% | 43.9% | 1981 | $1,308 | 40.8% | 98.6% | 3.0% |
| South Barnstead | 2.67 | 48.8 | 5.8% | 9.2% | 12.5% | 1988 | $1,394 | 35.3% | 94.6% | 2.1% |
| Barnstead | 2.60 | 51.8 | 8.2% | 9.9% | 17.7% | 1984 | $1,437 | 33.2% | 94.2% | 2.9% |
| Farmington | 2.42 | 47.2 | 8.9% | 23.6% | 7.5% | 1971 | $1,376 | 15.8% | 88.4% | 4.3% |
| Union | 2.67 | 45.6 | 9.5% | 5.3% | 21.7% | 1980 | $1,493 | 21.5% | 91.6% | 3.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Holmes Beach, FL · Harbor Beach, MI · Aberdeen, ID · Stanley, ND · Mannington, WV · Grand Marais, MN · Freemansburg, PA · Chesapeake City, MD · Flandreau, SD · Fort Fairfield, ME
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Alton. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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