Compare towns

Alton vs Atkinson vs Ogunquit vs Loudon

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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Loudon has the most kids (16.8% 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.

MeasureAltonAtkinsonOgunquitLoudon
People
Population
5,994
7,267Highest
1,379Lowest
5,692
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.7±3.2
38% above U.S.
57.1±2.8
47% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
49.5±3.2Lowest
27% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.4%±4
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Loudon and Atkinson 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%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Atkinson and Ogunquit 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.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$106,966±$16kLowest
32% above U.S.
Atkinson and Ogunquit 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±$65k
67% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$363,400±$48kLowest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,140±$32Lowest
19% below U.S.
—
$1,321±$465Highest
7% below U.S.
Loudon and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,183Lowest
34% above U.S.
$6,918Highest
122% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$5,821
87% above 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%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.5%±30.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Atkinson and Loudon 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%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
28 min
7% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
21.1%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.9%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #72 of 120 in NH #32 of 120 in NH — #99 of 120 in NH
School district Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District Timberlane Regional School District — Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town Prospect Mountain High School None in town — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
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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.