Compare towns
Acton vs Atkinson vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Acton | Atkinson | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
7,267Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Lowest 36% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Atkinson and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,140±$32Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Atkinson and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 133 in ME | #32 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Timberlane Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.