Compare towns
Atkinson vs Derry vs Wolfeboro vs Gilford
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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
34,116Highest |
6,571Lowest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
48.2±3.9 11% 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% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Gilford 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Atkinson and Gilford 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±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% 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 |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,150±$747 23% below NH |
| Derry and Gilford 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$4,868 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Gilford 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Kingswood Regional High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.5 |
| 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.