Compare towns
Atkinson vs Derry vs Rochester 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 highest household income ($146k).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Derry | Rochester | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
34,116Highest |
33,144 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
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% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Rochester 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 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% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 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±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Atkinson and Derry 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 |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below 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 |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Derry and Rochester 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 |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$5,334 20% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Rochester School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Spaulding High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
13.2 |
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.