Compare towns
Atkinson vs Upton vs Salem 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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
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 | Upton | Salem | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
8,189 |
30,964Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 67% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 19% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Upton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Upton 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 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Salem School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Salem High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
11.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.