Compare towns
Atkinson vs Lyndeborough vs Sandown
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Lyndeborough | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Highest |
1,616Lowest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
50±3.2 15% above NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Lyndeborough 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% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Sandown 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 48% above NH |
$116,964±$17kLowest 18% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
| Atkinson and Sandown 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 |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
| Atkinson and Sandown 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 |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Sandown 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% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | — | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.