Compare towns
Atkinson vs Mason vs Alton
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 most expensive homes ($555k median).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Mason | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Highest |
1,451Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Mason 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 |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| 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 38% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Atkinson 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Mason 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 | — | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Mason School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.