Compare towns
Atkinson vs Sutton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
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 | Sutton | Wolfeboro | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
9,452 |
6,571Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% 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. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Salem 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Salem 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 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. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% 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% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Sutton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Sutton | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.