Compare towns
Atkinson vs Lynn 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 most people working from home (21.1%).
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Alton has the most affordable homes ($430k 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 | Lynn | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
101,709Highest |
5,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
36.5±1.2Lowest 6% below 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% |
24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Alton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Lynn 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. |
$75,043±$3kLowest 7% below 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. |
$510,100±$23k 53% above U.S. |
$430,400±$37kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Lynn 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. |
$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,384 73% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Lynn 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% |
13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Alton 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Lynn | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lynn English High | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.0Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.