Compare towns
Atkinson vs Bow vs Derry vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k 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 | Bow | Derry | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
8,335 |
34,116Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Bow and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| 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±$32 24% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Derry and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Bow School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Pinkerton Academy | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
13.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.