Compare towns
Atkinson vs Needham 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 most homeowners (92.6%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
32,459Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Needham 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 81% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kLowest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Needham | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.