Compare towns
Atkinson vs Appleton 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
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Atkinson | Appleton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Highest |
1,360Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% 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 | 14.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest 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+ | 42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below 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 | $555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below 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. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Atkinson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | 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.