Compare towns
Atkinson vs Hampstead vs Keene
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).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Hampstead | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
9,102 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Atkinson 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% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Atkinson and Hampstead 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 |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Atkinson and Hampstead 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 |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
| Keene and Hampstead 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Keene 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% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.