Compare towns
Alton vs Meredith vs Ossipee 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%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% 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 | Meredith | Ossipee | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,994 |
6,758 |
4,521Lowest |
7,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Atkinson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Meredith 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 |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% 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±$37k 7% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Atkinson and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Ossipee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$6,918Highest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Atkinson 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Atkinson 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.