Compare towns
Atkinson vs Alton vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% 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.
| Measure | Atkinson | Alton | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
5,994Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Atkinson and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest 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+ | 42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% 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 | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
— | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Derry 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| 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.