Compare towns
Atkinson vs Pelham vs Townsend
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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Pelham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
14,449Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Townsend 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Atkinson 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. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Pelham 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. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Pelham 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. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Pelham 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Pelham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.