Compare towns
Atkinson vs Meredith vs North Hampton 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%).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
North Hampton has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Meredith | North Hampton | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267Highest |
6,758 |
4,543Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
50.5±3.3Lowest 17% above 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton 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 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Meredith 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 |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| North Hampton 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±$65k 38% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| North Hampton and Atkinson 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 |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Meredith 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
25 min 8% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | 11.1 |
| 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.