Compare towns

Atkinson vs Kittery vs Alton

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).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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.

MeasureAtkinsonKitteryAlton
People
Population
7,267
10,473Highest
5,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.1±2.8Highest
47% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Lowest
20% above U.S.
53.7±3.2
38% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Kittery 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
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
25.1%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Atkinson and Kittery 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%
46%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Atkinson and Kittery 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.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
$113,715±$19k
41% above U.S.
Atkinson and Alton 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.
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
$430,400±$37kLowest
29% above U.S.
Atkinson and Kittery 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.
$1,716±$224Highest
21% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,918Highest
122% above U.S.
$4,518
45% above U.S.
$4,183Lowest
34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.5%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
31.7%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Atkinson and Kittery 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%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
7% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
21.1%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kittery 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 #17 of 133 in ME #72 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Kittery Public Schools Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town None in town Robert W Traip Academy Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9Lowest
11.1Highest
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.