Compare towns
Atkinson vs Lawrence 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 most people working from home (21.1%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Lawrence | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
88,736Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Lawrence 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. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Plaistow 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. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Lawrence 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. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Lawrence 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Lawrence | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
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.