Compare towns
Atkinson vs Brookline vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Alton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
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 | Brookline | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Highest |
5,736Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline 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±$32k 48% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$113,715±$19kLowest 15% above NH |
| Brookline and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
| Atkinson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Brookline School District | 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 |
NH 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.