Moving to Tilton, New Hampshire

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

Tilton, New Hampshire is situated in the heart of the Lakes Region in Belknap County. The city is home to a population of just under 3,000 people, with a median age of 42 years old. Tilton is located at the north end of Lake Winnipesaukee, and is surrounded by hills and forests. The climate in Tilton is generally mild with cold winters and hot summers.

The history of Tilton dates back to 1764 when it was first settled by European families. For many years it was a rural farming community, but in the late 19th century it developed into an industrial center due to its proximity to the railroad and river. During this period several textile mills were built along the banks of the Winnipesaukee River which helped fuel the economy for many years.

Today, Tilton’s economy is driven by tourism, as well as manufacturing and retail businesses. There are several large shopping centers located in town that draw visitors from across New England. In addition, there are numerous small businesses that line Main Street that cater to locals and visitors alike.

Tilton has an excellent public school system that offers students a wide range of educational opportunities from kindergarten through high school graduation. There are also several private schools located in town as well as higher education opportunities at nearby colleges such as Franklin Pierce University and Plymouth State University.

Tilton is home to some beautiful landmarks including a historic covered bridge over the Winnipesaukee River that was built in 1859; The Balsams Resort which opened in 1866; and The Tanger Outlet Center which opened in 1998 and features over 200 different stores for shoppers to explore. Additionally, there are several parks throughout town such as Wadleigh State Park which offers camping sites, hiking trails, swimming areas, picnic areas and more for visitors to enjoy year-round.

Population: 3,477. Estimated population in July 2024: 3,636 (+4.6% change)
Males: 1,744 (50.2%), Females: 1,733 (49.8%)

Belknap County

Demographics

Median resident age: 39.6 years
Median household income: $41,977
Median house value: $95,900

Population by Race

Races in Tilton:

White Non-Hispanic (96.0%)
Two or more races (1.8%)
American Indian (1.8%)
Hispanic (1.0%)

Ancestries: English (18.7%), French (17.7%), Irish (16.7%), French Canadian (11.8%), United States (9.1%), Italian (7.8%).

Elevation: 458 feet

Population by Education

Tilton, New Hampshire is a small town located in the heart of the state. According to the latest census data, there are 3,220 people living in Tilton. The population is made up of mostly Caucasians at 92.2%, followed by African Americans (2.9%), Hispanics (1.3%), Asians (1.3%), and other races (2.3%). The median age of residents is 42 years old, and the median household income is $48,788 per year.

Tilton has a diverse range of employment opportunities for its residents, with many businesses and industries located within its borders. The most common industries are retail trade (13%), health care and social assistance (10%), manufacturing (9%), and educational services (7%). Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting make up 3% of the town’s workforce while construction makes up another 2%. Many residents work in nearby cities such as Concord or Manchester for higher paying jobs or to take advantage of more specialized career opportunities.

The town’s public school system consists of one elementary school, one middle school and one high school that serve Tilton’s students from kindergarten through 12th grade. In addition to these schools, there are several private schools located within Tilton as well as a local branch of River Valley Community College which offers courses in various disciplines such as business administration and computer science technology.

The local government in Tilton provides many services to its citizens including police protection, street maintenance, trash collection and recycling programs. The town also operates a library which provides books on various topics as well as an extensive collection of music CDs and DVDs for borrowing or renting. In addition to this library service there are several parks located throughout the town that provide recreational activities for locals including basketball courts, playgrounds and picnic areas with grills available for use by visitors or residents alike during warm summer days or evenings out with friends or family members.

For population 25 years and over in Tilton

High school or higher: 79.5%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.9%
Unemployed: 5.0%
Mean travel time to work: 24.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Tilton town

Never married: 22.1%
Now married: 54.8%
Separated: 1.3%
Widowed: 8.4%
Divorced: 13.3%

1.2% Foreign born

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Tilton:

FRANKLIN REGIONAL HOSPITAL (about 5 miles; FRANKLIN, NH)
LAKES REGION GENERAL HOSPITAL (about 14 miles; LACONIA, NH)
CONCORD HOSPITAL (about 17 miles; CONCORD, NH)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Tilton:

MANCHESTER (about 37 miles; MANCHESTER, NH; Abbreviation: MHT)
PEASE INTERNATIONAL TRADEPORT (about 60 miles; PORTSMOUTH, NH; Abbreviation: PSM)
LAURENCE G HANSCOM FLD (about 71 miles; BEDFORD, MA; Abbreviation: BED)

Other public-use airports nearest to Tilton:

LACONIA MUNI (about 15 miles; LACONIA, NH; Abbreviation: LCI)
NEWFOUND VALLEY (about 15 miles; BRISTOL, NH; Abbreviation: 2N2)
CONCORD MUNI (about 18 miles; CONCORD, NH; Abbreviation: CON)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Tilton:

PLYMOUTH STATE COLLEGE (about 22 miles; PLYMOUTH, NH; Full-time enrollment: 3,542)
NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE (about 29 miles; MANCHESTER, NH; Full-time enrollment: 3,251)
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE-MAIN CAMPUS (about 49 miles; DURHAM, NH; Full-time enrollment: 12,586)
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE (about 50 miles; HANOVER, NH; Full-time enrollment: 5,309)
KEENE STATE COLLEGE (about 57 miles; KEENE, NH; Full-time enrollment: 4,049)
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS-LOWELL (about 58 miles; LOWELL, MA; Full-time enrollment: 8,373)
NORTHERN ESSEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 58 miles; HAVERHILL, MA; Full-time enrollment: 3,388)

Schools

Public high school in Tilton:

WINNISQUAM REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 546; Location: 435 WEST MAIN ST; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high school in Tilton:

TILTON SCHOOL (Students: 208; Location: 30 SCHOOL STREET; Grades: 9 – 12)

Public primary/middle school in Tilton:

WINNISQUAM REGIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 491; Location: 76 WINTER ST; Grades: 06 – 08)

Private primary/middle schools in Tilton:

THE WHOLE CHILD CENTER (Students: 45; Location: PO BOX 648; Grades: PK – KG)
SPAULDING YOUTH CENTER (Students: 30; Location: PO BOX 189; Grades: 1 – 8; Boys only)