Compare towns
Atkinson vs Bellows Falls vs Alton
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 most people working from home (21.1%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Highest |
2,891Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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 81% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
| 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 67% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
— |
| Atkinson and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Bellows Falls 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% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Alton 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 |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | — | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.