Compare towns
Atkinson vs Castleton vs Derry vs Alton
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 most people working from home (21.1%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Castleton | Derry | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
4,453Lowest |
34,116Highest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2 38% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19k 41% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,183 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Derry 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #60 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.