Moving to Wilton, New Hampshire

by btobers · Published June 21, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Wilton is located in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire and has a population of 6,611 people. Geographically speaking, Wilton is situated on the Souhegan River and is surrounded by hills and mountains. The climate in Wilton is continental; winters are cold with heavy snowfall while summers are warm with occasional thunderstorms.

Wilton was first settled in 1764 and was officially incorporated in 1770. It became an important mill town during the Industrial Revolution and remains a center for manufacturing to this day. Politically, Wilton is a largely conservative area that tends to vote Republican in elections.

The economy of Wilton is primarily driven by manufacturing, but also includes some retail and tourism businesses. The town’s schools include Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative Middle School and High School as well as several elementary schools including Amherst Street Elementary School, Brookside Elementary School, Derryfield Elementary School, and Northbridge Elementary School.

Wilton has several notable landmarks that visitors can explore such as the historic Souhegan Grange Hall which dates back to 1845; the Old Stone Store which was built in 1867; and the Great Stone Dam which was built between 1822 and 1826 for industrial purposes. Visitors can also take advantage of nearby Mount Monadnock State Park where they can hike or just enjoy the natural beauty of New Hampshire’s countryside.

Population: 3,743. Estimated population in July 2024: 3,884 (+3.8% change)
Males: 1,821 (48.7%), Females: 1,922 (51.3%)

Hillsborough County

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.4 years
Median household income: $54,276
Median house value: $130,900

Population by Race

Races in Wilton:

White Non-Hispanic (97.2%)
Two or more races (1.0%)
Hispanic (0.8%)
American Indian (0.7%)

Ancestries: English (26.6%), Irish (20.2%), German (11.6%), French (11.3%), Italian (9.0%), French Canadian (5.8%).

Elevation: 357 feet

Land area: 1.9 square miles

Population by Education

Wilton is a small town located in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. With a population of just over 5,000 people, Wilton is the smallest town in its county. The median age of the town’s population is 41 years old, with about 25% of the population being under 18 years old. The median household income for Wilton is $75,000 per year.

The cost of living in Wilton is relatively low compared to other towns in New Hampshire and the surrounding area. Housing costs are relatively affordable; the median home value in Wilton is $250,000, which is lower than the state average. Property taxes are also lower than average; they account for just 1.2% of the median household income. The overall cost of living index for Wilton is 91 (the national average is 100). This means that basic goods and services are about 9% cheaper than they are on average across the country.

The town also has plenty to offer residents when it comes to recreation and leisure activities. There are several parks and walking trails in and around Wilton that provide a great opportunity to get outdoors and explore nature without having to leave town limits. For those looking for more adventure, nearby White Mountain National Forest provides opportunities for hiking, camping, skiing and other outdoor activities for all skill levels. There are also plenty of cultural attractions such as museums and art galleries within driving distance from Wilton that can provide entertainment or educational opportunities for all ages.

For population 25 years and over in Wilton

High school or higher: 89.5%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.0%
Graduate or professional degree: 10.8%
Unemployed: 1.9%
Mean travel time to work: 29.4 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Wilton town

Never married: 20.6%
Now married: 61.0%
Separated: 1.6%
Widowed: 5.4%
Divorced: 11.4%

2.6% Foreign born (1.6% Europe, 0.5% North America, 0.4% Asia).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Wilton:

MONADNOCK COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 16 miles; PETERBOROUGH, NH)
SOUTHERN NH MEDICAL CENTER (about 20 miles; NASHUA, NH)
ST JOSEPH HOSPITAL (about 20 miles; NASHUA, NH)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Wilton:

MANCHESTER (about 22 miles; MANCHESTER, NH; Abbreviation: MHT)
LAURENCE G HANSCOM FLD (about 41 miles; BEDFORD, MA; Abbreviation: BED)
WORCESTER REGIONAL (about 41 miles; WORCESTER, MA; Abbreviation: ORH)

Other public-use airports nearest to Wilton:

BOIRE FIELD (about 18 miles; NASHUA, NH; Abbreviation: ASH)
HAWTHORNE-FEATHER AIRPARK (about 19 miles; HILLSBORO, NH; Abbreviation: 8B1)
JAFFREY AIRPORT-SILVER RANCH (about 19 miles; JAFFREY, NH; Abbreviation: AFN)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Wilton:

FITCHBURG STATE COLLEGE (about 19 miles; FITCHBURG, MA; Full-time enrollment: 3,660)
NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE (about 25 miles; MANCHESTER, NH; Full-time enrollment: 3,251)
MOUNT WACHUSETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 26 miles; GARDNER, MA; Full-time enrollment: 2,023)
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS-LOWELL (about 31 miles; LOWELL, MA; Full-time enrollment: 8,373)
BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY (about 34 miles; WALTHAM, MA; Full-time enrollment: 4,444)
KEENE STATE COLLEGE (about 36 miles; KEENE, NH; Full-time enrollment: 4,049)
QUINSIGAMOND COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 37 miles; WORCESTER, MA; Full-time enrollment: 3,359)

Schools

Public high school in Wilton:

WILTON-LYNDEBORO SR HIGH (Students: 246; Location: 57 SCHOOL RD; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high school in Wilton:

HIGH MOWING SCHOOL (Students: 103; Location: P O BOX 850 ABBOT HILL ROAD; Grades: 9 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Wilton:

FLORENCE RIDEOUT ELEMENTARY (Students: 315; Location: PO BOX 430; Grades: KG – 06)
WILTON-LYNDEBORO MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 134; Location: 57 SCHOOL RD; Grades: 07 – 08)

Private primary/middle schools in Wilton:

PINE HILL WALDORF SCHOOL (Students: 236; Location: PO BOX 668 ABBOT HILL RD; Grades: KG – 8)
THE GREELEY SCHOOL (Students: 16; Location: 126 TEMPLE ROAD; Grades: PK – KG)

Libraries

Library in Wilton:

WILTON PUBLIC & GREGG FREE LIBRARY (Operating income: $165,632; Location: 7 FOREST ROAD; 21,863 books; 600 audio materials; 325 video materials; 70 serial subscriptions)