Compare towns
Atkinson vs Reading vs Wolfeboro vs Derry
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
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 | Reading | Wolfeboro | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
699Lowest |
6,571 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 81% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
| 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 67% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
| 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 19% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 120 in NH | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.