Compare towns
Atkinson vs Ware 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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware | Wolfeboro | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
10,048 |
6,571Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Salem 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below 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. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,531 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% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Ware 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% |
11.8%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% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 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. |
28 min 8% above 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% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Ware | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
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.