Compare towns

Atkinson vs Barre vs Hampstead

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 the highest household income ($146k).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% 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.

MeasureAtkinsonBarreHampstead
People
Population
7,267Lowest
8,412
9,102Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.1±2.8Highest
47% above U.S.
42.2±6.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
Kids under 18
14.1%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hampstead and Atkinson 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%
19.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$32kHighest
81% above U.S.
$65,625±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
$112,348±$18k
39% above U.S.
Atkinson and Hampstead 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.
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
$521,100±$45k
57% above U.S.
Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,140±$32
19% below U.S.
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,299±$149Highest
8% below U.S.
Hampstead and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,918
122% above U.S.
$5,192Lowest
66% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.5%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.4%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
17.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
7% above U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
21.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Atkinson and Hampstead 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 #19 of 70 in VT #49 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Hampstead School District
High school in town None in town Spaulding Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7
—
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.