Compare towns
Alstead vs Atkinson vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Alstead | Atkinson | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
7,267 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Atkinson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.