Compare towns
Atkinson vs Dorset vs Plaistow
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 highest household income ($146k).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Dorset | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
2,092Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Plaistow 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% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow 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 81% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 |
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.