Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Alton grades B− overall, 85th of 125 graded towns in New Hampshire, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. It is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns and crime is low: it reports less per resident than 77% of U.S. towns. On the other side, its public schools trail 77% of New Hampshire towns on state tests and graduation. Alton’s median age is 53.7 years, where New Hampshire’s towns sit at 44.6 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years. Alton has 5 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them First Freewill Baptist Church and Alton Bay Railroad Station. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 84% of U.S. towns.
Where Alton beats most towns.
Census counts: 445 in 1790, a low of 445 in 1790, 5,894 in 2020. The archive holds 14 old photos and papers going back to 1907 and 3 maps from 1919 on.
5 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Alton takes its name from Alton in Hampshire, England, 3,210 miles across the Atlantic.
UKUK editionAlton, settled in 1796, takes its name from Alton, a town in Hampshire, England.
1 more U.S. town is named after Alton:Alton, ME842
Named after: each U.S. town’s Wikipedia article. Grades compare each town with towns in its own country, so they aren’t a head-to-head.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New Hampshire), ordered by how far Alton is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Who provides power, water and the rest in Alton, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 19, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Alton.
Alton has a longer frost-free season than almost anywhere else in New Hampshire and is a second-home town, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of New Hampshire.
Within New Hampshire it is healthier than 62% of the 126 graded towns: New Hampshire sets a high bar.
14% of Alton adults report frequent mental distress. Alton beats the New Hampshire average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 29% of Alton adults have obesity.
| Alton | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 33% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 20% | 25% |
| What stands out | Alton | NH |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 7.5% | 9.5% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.9% | 9.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Alton School District. Its two schools are below. The largest public high school is Prospect Mountain High School, with 402 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alton Central School (Elem)Largest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 407 | C |
| Prospect Mountain High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 402 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NH on state tests and graduation
Violent crime is rare: 2 reported in 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 residents.
Alton’s violent crime rate is 0.3 per 1,000 residents. New Hampshire has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Alton sits closer to the middle.
| Alton | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.3 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.4 per 1,000 residents | 4.4 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Most working residents leave Alton for work: only 12% work in town. The average trip to work in Alton is 33 minutes. Jobs based in Alton grew to 1,092 in 2023, 251 more than in 2013.
| Alton | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 33 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $114,000 | $103,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 6.8% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 12% | 9.8% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
The Lakeport 2 weather station, 12 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 170 days, the #2 highest of 321 New Hampshire places with climate records.
Alton has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 81°, January nights drop to 12° and about 62 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
At 6.3 years of the Laconia area’s $93K median household income, the typical home (about $586K) costs more against local pay than in 83% of New Hampshire towns; that ratio is one input to its C for cost of living.
The typical Alton home is worth about $586,000, up 1.3% in a year, 15% above the New Hampshire typical home. 94% of households own their home in Alton.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
60 miles of trail in 30 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Merrymeeting Marsh Wildlife Management Area, at 494 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Evelyn H. & Albert D., Sr. Morse Preserve | 2.6 mi | 444 |
| 2. Quarry Mountain Forest | 2.5 mi | 490 |
| 3. Mount Major Reservation | 2.5 mi | 288 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
49.1% of homes are seasonal or vacation homes, against 10.1% statewide, which helps explain the older median age.
People 65 and older are 25% of residents (20% statewide); children under 18 are 13% of residents (18% statewide). Alton has grown 2.5% since 2020, to 6,036 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 36% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 41% across New Hampshire.
| Alton | New Hampshire towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 13% | 18% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 25% | 20% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 36% | 39% | 29% |
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.6 points. Across New Hampshire, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Alton | NH | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8.6% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 4.8% | 8.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.1% | 8.7% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.8% | 12.7% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 7.8% | 12.4% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.6% | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 22.3% | 15.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.5% | 12.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11.6% | 7.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.4% | 5.6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 28.3% | 26.8% | 26% |
| Some college | 16.1% | 17.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 15.4% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.4% | 24.5% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.4% | 16.1% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 51% of U.S. communities. Since 1981, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Alton.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Alton. Close and well known come first.
in town LakeLake Winnipesaukee
39 mi Scenic railwayConway Scenic Railroad7 mi Ski areaGunstock Recreation Area73 runs · 1,305 ft vertical
40 mi LighthouseCape Neddick Light
36 mi Ski areaWaterville Valley Resort84 runs · 1,990 ft vertical
15 mi MuseumCanterbury Shaker VillageLake Winnipesaukee: No machine-readable author provided. JohnJHenderson~commonswiki assumed (based o, Public domain · Conway Scenic Railroad: Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cape Neddick Light: Stefan Hillebrand, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Waterville Valley Resort: MConradWard, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Canterbury Shaker Village: SayCheeeeeese, Public domain
1 within 15 miles of the center of Alton
About 1 of every 100 Alton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across New Hampshire.
5,250 counted in 2010 and 5,894 in 2020; an estimated 6,036 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
5 places in Alton on the National Register of Historic Places.
Town in New Hampshire, United States
Alton is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,894 at the 2020 census, and an estimated 6,036 in 2025, up from 5,250 at the 2010 census. It is home to Alton Bay State Forest and Mount Major State Forest. The primary settlement in town, where 499 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Alton census-designated place (CDP) and is centered on the intersection of New Hampshire Route 11 and New Hampshire Route 140. The town also includes the village of Alton Bay, a long-time resort located beside Lake Winnipesaukee.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
7 towns share a border with Alton.
| Town | NH rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alton | #85 | B− | C | A− | C− | A |
| Gilford | #41 | A− | C+ | B+ | B+ | A |
| Tuftonboro | #42 | A− | C | A− | B | A |
| New Durham | #58 | B+ | B− | A | B | A− |
| Wolfeboro | #66 | B | C− | A− | B | A− |
| Barnstead | #90 | B− | C+ | A− | D | A− |
| Gilmanton | #22 | A | B− | A | A− | A |
| Farmington | #111 | C | B | B | C− | B− |
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Alton grades B− overall, better than 50% of U.S. towns and #85 of 125 in New Hampshire. It grades A for health, A− for safety and C− for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Yes, by national standards. New Hampshire has less crime than most states, so among its own towns Alton sits nearer the middle.
That is 6.3 years of the area's median household income ($92,783 across the Laconia, NH area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
2 notable people were born here, including George Franklin Drew and Lorenzo Coffin.
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