Compare towns
Atkinson vs Boxford 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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k median).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Boxford | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
8,208 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
49.1±3.6 26% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford and Hampstead 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% |
21.2%±4.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest 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±$32k 81% above U.S. |
$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kLowest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$776±$13Lowest 45% 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 | $6,918Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Atkinson 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% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boxford 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 | #34 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Boxford · Masconomet | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Masconomet Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.