Compare towns
Atkinson vs Amherst vs Hampstead
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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Amherst | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
11,861Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
| Amherst and Atkinson 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 |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
| Atkinson and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,462±$256Highest about the NH average |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Amherst and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead 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% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.