The Town FilesAlton, New Hampshire
Town in Belknap County · population 5,894 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $430,400
- Household income
- $113,715
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 67 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 53.7
Alton is a town of 5,894 people in Belknap County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $430,400, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks quieter than 92% of New Hampshire towns, better for a vacation home than 72% of New Hampshire towns, better for families than 71% of New Hampshire towns.
How Alton ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Alton is worth $430,400, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $113,715, which is more affordable than 51% of New Hampshire towns. 93.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alton | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $430,400 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | — | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $113,715 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.7% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 49.1% | — |
Who lives in Alton
| People | Alton | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.7 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 13.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.8% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 11.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 33.1 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 92.5% |
Weather in Alton
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 11.7°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 67.3 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alton since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 24, 2008 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 22, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 26, 2022.
Severe weather in Belknap County since 1996
Belknap County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4693: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Belknap County
Belknap County had 25,854 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,999 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Alton itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Alton
2 public schools with 823 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alton Central School (Elem) | PK-8 | 418 | 9.7 |
| Prospect Mountain High School | 9-13 | 405 | 11.6 |
Towns near Alton
- New Durham, NH4.7 mi · 2,693 people · home $339,400
- Gilford, NH7.1 mi · 7,699 people · home $456,500
- Wolfeboro, NH7.4 mi · 3,300 people · home $475,200
- Gilmanton, NH7.4 mi · 3,945 people · home $363,700
- Wolfeboro, NH9.4 mi · 6,416 people · home $546,500
- Barnstead, NH9.7 mi · 4,915 people · home $362,400
- Farmington, NH10.4 mi · 3,824 people · home $229,600
- Milton, NH11.6 mi · 4,482 people · home $318,400
Alton questions
Is Alton, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alton scores better for retirees than 31% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 92%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.7).
How much does a house cost in Alton?
The median owner-occupied home in Alton is valued at $430,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $113,715, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Alton?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 11.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 67.3 inches of snow.
Does Alton get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 24, 2008. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)