Compare towns
Atkinson vs Marblehead 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Marblehead | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
20,413Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
49.1±2 26% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Marblehead and Plaistow 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% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Marblehead 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% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Marblehead 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. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Marblehead 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±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Plaistow 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #32 of 120 in NH | #47 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Marblehead | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marblehead High | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.