Compare towns
Atkinson vs Epping vs Bow vs Alton
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 most expensive homes ($555k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Epping | Bow | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267 |
7,430 |
8,335Highest |
5,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
53.7±3.2 24% 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5 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% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Bow 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 |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Bow 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 |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
| Atkinson and Bow 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 |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
— |
| Epping and Bow 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Bow 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Epping School District | Bow School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Bow High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.