Compare towns
Atkinson vs Athol vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Athol | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
12,011Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Athol 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 81% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Athol-Royalston | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.