Compare towns
Atkinson vs Canterbury vs Plaistow
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Canterbury | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
2,353Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Canterbury 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% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Canterbury 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% |
49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury 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±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Atkinson and Canterbury 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 |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$7,421Highest 11% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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 NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Shaker Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.