Compare towns
Atkinson vs Ripton vs Wolfeboro vs Salem
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 highest household income ($146k).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Salem has the most kids (16.2% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Wolfeboro | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
508Lowest |
6,571 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Ripton 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% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% 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. |
— | $1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| 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.