Compare towns
Atkinson vs Lancaster vs Sutton vs Derry
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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Sutton | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
8,606 |
9,452 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Sutton 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Lancaster 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Atkinson 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 81% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 67% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Sutton 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,763Lowest 117% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Nashoba | Sutton | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.