Compare towns
Atkinson vs Brookline vs Sandown
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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Sandown has the most affordable homes ($483k 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 | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Highest |
5,736Lowest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$135,040±$25kLowest 36% 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 |
$483,400±$44kLowest 20% 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 |
$1,893±$721 27% above NH |
| Brookline and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,801 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Sandown 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% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Brookline 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 | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Brookline School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.