Compare towns
Alton vs Dover vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Dover | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Lowest |
33,364Highest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover 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 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| Dover 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 15% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| Atkinson and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Dover School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.