Compare towns
Atkinson vs Gorham 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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Gorham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
18,300Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Gorham 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. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Gorham Public Schools | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.