Compare towns
Atkinson vs Derry vs Alton vs Gilford
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 highest household income ($146k).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Derry | Alton | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
34,116Highest |
5,994Lowest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
48.2±3.9 11% 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% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Gilford 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 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% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Derry 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 |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Atkinson and Gilford 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 |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
| Atkinson and Gilford 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 |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
— | $1,150±$747 23% below NH |
| Derry and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,868 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Gilford 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Gilford 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Prospect Mountain High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.