Compare towns
Alton vs Dedham vs Atkinson
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%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Dedham | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Lowest |
25,237Highest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% 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% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Dedham 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% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Dedham | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.