Compare towns

Atkinson vs Berwick 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 expensive homes ($555k median).
Berwick has the most kids (22.7% 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.

MeasureAtkinsonBerwickAlton
People
Population
7,267
8,175Highest
5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.1±2.8Highest
47% above U.S.
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% 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%
22.7%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1Lowest
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%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Atkinson and Berwick 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.
$94,771±$24kLowest
17% above 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.
$369,100±$19kLowest
11% above U.S.
$430,400±$37k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,140±$32Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,452±$430Highest
about the U.S. average
—
Berwick and Atkinson 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.
$4,436
42% above U.S.
$4,183Lowest
34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.5%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
31.7%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Atkinson and Berwick 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%
4.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
7% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
21.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Atkinson and Berwick 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 #101 of 133 in ME #72 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District RSU 60/MSAD 60 Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town None in town None in town Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.