Compare towns
Alton vs Atkinson vs Hooksett vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Alton | Atkinson | Hooksett | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,994 |
7,267 |
15,057Highest |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 34% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Hooksett 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.