Compare towns
Atkinson vs Boston vs Derry
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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% 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.
| Measure | Atkinson | Boston | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
666,442Highest |
34,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$731,700±$10kHighest 120% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,147±$25Highest 52% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Derry 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% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boston 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 | #258 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Boston Latin School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 18.7Highest |
13.9Lowest |
| 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.